I adored The Darkest Part of the Forest and really wanted to love this book as well. Sadly, when writing worlds that are so dark, it's important to still offer a reason for the reader to want to remain in the world with these characters, and I couldn't establish one. There were no redeeming qualities about the world that made me want to stick with it, the MMC (who will eventually become the love interest) is truly horrid and I didn't enjoy him at all, regardless of how he may redeem himself later in the book. Even the main character, Jude, is too closed off. She doesn't want to establish connections with anyone, which has the unintended side effect of not allowing the reader to establish a connection with her either.

I kept trying and trying to bring myself to read more, but I simply gave up at chapter 19. There are others who absolutely adore this series and kudos to them. Sadly, it's just not for me.