I waited quite a long time to read this book. I actually considered quitting the series altogether. I enjoyed Three Dark Crowns (it also got 4 stars from me) but I didn't remember a lot of the details and knew I would have to re-read it to get to this one and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that.

This series is so interesting to me, as far as fan reaction goes. Readers seem very divided. Some absolutely love it, some can't stand it. I feel like the people who don't like it prefer their fantasy series with more external plot. And I get it. The first book is very slow to start while we are introduced to character after character and the world is being established. It's not an up-tempo series by any means.

However, I feel like there is something very unique about this world and this story that keeps me intrigued.

What I liked:

1. Political intrigue. This is really where this story shines. Each Queen's camp is trying to gain the advantage against the other two and has no problem double crossing allies when it suits their purposes. I found that for me that helped to build up tension because I was never quite sure what any of the characters was going to do.

2. Billy. I just love the fact that he loves Arsinoe, even though she's never been 'the pretty one' and that her scars dont faze him in the slightest. I was afraid at first that they were going to go in a different way with his character, but for now I'm completely satisfied with his arc.

3. Jules and her arc. I don't want to spoil anything, but I really enjoy her arc in this book and I'm excited to see what they do with her character in the next book. I like that she is just as powerful as any of the three queens, if not more so.

What I didn't like:

1. Lack of explanation. This is specifically aimed at Katharine and what was going on with her. At the end of book one (spoilers, I guess, for people who haven't read book one...what are you doing here?) she is thrown down this endless pit and shows up a few days later no worse for wear but with a completely different personality. I felt like it took way too long in the book to acknowledge what happened to her, and honestly, I'm not sure it was even explained in a satisfactory manner. I get the gist of what happened, I guess, but unless I missed something (which is possible if my mind wandered I guess) it's never clarified in a way that I could explain it to someone else and discuss it.

2. The ending. I was waiting for a big twist or crazy thing to happen at the end, and I felt a little let down. I mean, there were a couple things I didn't predict, but I wanted something to shock me, and instead each thing that happened felt kind of like I should've expected it. The good news is that it doesn't really end on a cliffhanger, for those people who hate cliffhangers. It's not wrapped up neatly, but we aren't left completely destroyed for months until the next book comes out.


I really enjoy this series and I'm so glad I decided to re-read the first book and pick up this installment. I would recommend this series to anyone who doesn't mind a slower-paced, character-driven story.