This is my favorite of the series so far. The MCs are the most dynamic, quirky and complex, and their relationship progresses in a way that feels the most natural. Additionally, the plot itself was my favorite of the three so far as well. Of course, I still wish we had more chances to delve into this world, because it is a world meant to be complex, but we simply don't get enough of the lore to really immerse ourselves. On a plus side, even though we follow a different pairing each book, the universe involves the characters we meet in the previous books, so with each book we have more exposure to previous characters and get to know them better.




Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Sure.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: As mentioned, I think Petru and Bash are the most dynamic MCs we've had yet. They are quirky and feel real, even if we don't get as much backstory as I'd wish to have to really bring them to life. For example, Petru's appearance (I think) was described in a previous book, but here, there is absolutely no physical description except that he's big/tall and has changing eye colors. For me, that keeps me at a distance when I can't even tell you anything else about his appearance. However, it is really sweet to see how genuinely terrible he is at expressing emotions and therefore the way he says things ends up being rather unintentionally humorous. Bash also feels the most fleshed out of all the characters as well. He looks young, sure, but we have his description, we're constantly being told what funny saying is on the t-shirt he's wearing, he's into meditation and helping others, for example. We actually get a sense of likes and dislikes as well. And the way they come together feels the most realistic as well. We have time (given they're both introduced in previous books), to develop into a pairing of strangers-to-lovers and we get to watch them. I appreciated this very much.




PLOT: We have another chosen one (I love this trope!) when Bash finds out he's the last seer and one of the most powerful in existence (backstory we're given in a prologue). However, this means he's in danger from forces that wish to destroy him and take his power. When they converge on Black Veil, Bash and our trusty family (Cain, Jayce, Petru, Emil, Aldritch, etc.) work together with him to protect not only their city, but Bash as well. Throughout, we get to see the romance between Bash and Petru as well as more developments in Jayce as he learns his magic. He and Bash are fairly similar in that way, which sets us up well for future books (I think!).



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

1:5/low. Another great beach read that follows the intensity of the previous books.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

75%. HEA. Too low in intensity to give me a true fulfillment, but I finished this one not frustrated!