Reread December 2023: 4.5 stars. My first review holds true, but I felt the lack of plot a lot more on this reread. Much of the storyline outside of the training and Nesta’s internal journey felt contrived and a bit less thought out than her writing in Throne of Glass. It was a little too convenient to be able to retcon the existence of the Dread Trove. However, I still loved it. What if the next ACOTAR was Mor/Emerie instead of Azriel??? 

First read May 2021: 5 stars. Hands down Maas’s best writing to date. Nesta’s growth and development through her grief and trauma were expertly handled and almost seemed out of place in high fantasy, which is what makes this book so beautiful and unique. I almost wish you didn’t have to read the first 3 books to understand what’s going on in this one because I want to recommend it to everyone I know. Absolutely fantastic novel.