This is my second time trying to read this book, and while a lot of reasons originally stopped me from continuing the first time (too much angst/frustration, especially in the romance), I wanted to persevere this time. Unfortunately... it didn't get any better.

Vhalla was so isolated in this book, and while that was probably the point, I hated it. I always liked seeing her friends in the last two books, especially some scenes in Fire Falling, so this book in comparison felt overall way less interesting to me. I also really disliked that

Spoiler

Aldrik was integral in this isolation, and while it was sometimes brought up and discussed, it was only ever when Vhalla was annoyed with Aldrik for some extra reason. I'm glad she's going off on her own for a bit to find herself, because it's almost as if she's been absorbed by him. If I didn't think this was the ending romance, I'd almost think this relationship was trying to teach something about toxic relationships and how kind they can seem when one's in them.

.

However, even with the isolation, I probably would have given it 3 stars if it not were for the ending. We see so much growth in the characters, and especially Aldrik and his relationship with others, throughout the past three books, only for a single argument to burn it all down. Their final fight was honestly so toxic that I don't even know if I want them together anymore. I half hoped

Spoiler

Daniel would come along, and a new romance would happen

, even if I found that to be unlikely. I also feel weird in general about how the romance stuff with Daniel went down, because even after Vhalla strongly says no he's still? a little too romantic? He also made a point of saying 'your feeling don't dictate mine' which I at first thought was a good line, but honestly, in a romantic context, it's actually not great at all. So at this point I'm just completely frustrated with the romance in this series, and it's such an integral part that it's ruining my reading of the series.

I'll still continue the series, because I want to enjoy them and see this reading through, but I really hope future Kova books have less frustrating romantic subplots.