Picking up where we left off in the first book, the story continues with Aina trying to control the Dom, find Kohl, and protect her friends. This book focuses heavily on the theme of relationships, be it friendships, enemies, or lovers. Aina is still so entangled with Kohl, and between wanting to kill him and examining her feelings, things are complicated. The shining thing in this book for me was the complexity of the relationship (be it toxic) between Kohl and Aina. Their relationship is a power struggle between the two, and one in which Kohl constantly hurts her and she comes back to him. They have this pull where they just can’t seem to stay away from the other, yet they both hate the other and care at the same time. It’s twisted, it’s layered, and it’s enjoyable as hell to read. With the city under attack from Bautix who wants to take over, Aina is forced to team up with Kohl in order to stop him. The issue is that Aina and Kohl both have separate plans and will not only be playing against Bautix, but each other to see who comes out standing at the end of this all. It’s a great read and a nice ending to the duology.

Favorite Quotes (this is taken from the arc) :
- Kohl’s Note to Aina: I hate to see you go, Aina. But I had to make a choice between the empire I’ve built for myself, the protection it affords, the way it empowers this community—and the one girl who makes me weak in a city where you can only afford to be strong.

-If Teo were here, she wouldn’t feel so cold. They would help each other stay warm, and if one of them succumbed to the cold, the other would find a way to go on.But if Kohl were here, they’d freeze to death together. Even if they never brought a knife to each other’s throats, they’d still end up killing each other slowly.The words in his notes came back to her: Sometimes I wonder if I let you live because I wanted to or because I’m too weak to end you. I hope we won’t have to find out.

-The only thing to decide was what to do with Kohl. She wouldn’t let him rattle her like the last time they’d spoken to each other and he’d said he feared living without her . . . or the way his eyes had softened in relief when he saw she’d survived Bautix’s attacks, or the notes he’d left her proving he’d always cared.Teo’s words echoed in her mind then: Every time you go back to Kohl, you fall down that same self-destructive path.

-Just like when they’d worked together, she never knew what direction he would take; if he’d try to hold her hand or break her arm.But when she looked up and met his normally sharp blue eyes, they’d softened somewhat. She remembered the letters in the horse. Had they really come from this man in front of her, who’d threatened her more times than she could count? His feelings for her had always been muddled, always confusing, always a mess, like hers had always been for him.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*