My favorite book within this trilogy! What I'll take away from this is that you can find a comfortable place in the world even with the lingering scars of trauma/grief/loss. The newly empty spaces that echo back at us can slowly, over time, be filled in with something new. There may not be a replacement for what was once there...but soil tended properly can reap new crops in spring. Also, Nikolai is one of the most delightful characters that I've ever come across in YA fantasy, I truly adore him. Had me laughing out loud on several occasions (':