Reread Review

For some reason I was worried, going into this reread, that it wouldn't hit as hard the second time around. Let's be real, I was worried for no reason. This book hit just as hard the second time around.

This book is the culmination of all the build up (emotional AND physical) of the other two books. Readers are batted between heavy-hitting emotional scenes involving almost all the characters and action-packed scenes that keep our hearts racing. You've never felt more alive, all while your heart is breaking piece by piece.

I can't think of a single character that didn't have some scene in this book that made me want to cry (except maybe the Apparat... because ew).

Spoiler

Alina's loss still hits the hardest, but seeing the Darkling lose everything he dreamed of (not in terms of power, but in terms of companionship and hope) broke my heart so much more this time around (largely due to Ben Barnes' more sympathetic portrayal of his character). I also loved that Mal's angst was tempered, and more poignant vs. just outright annoying. He willingness to give up everything for his country landed differently on the reread, and I appreciated it much more (instead of just thinking he was a dumbass the whole book). I also loved the growth we saw in Zoya, her willingness to follow Alina to the ends of the Ravka for the firebird. Genya's strength was also inspiring, and seeing her recovery, and her regain her strength (both physical and mental) throughout this book made me cry on multiple occassions.

. Overall, this is definitely the strongest book of the series, even if I enjoyed the setting of books 1 and 2 more. The emotional growth we see in this book is just fantastic, and I feel like this book rounds the story off really well, even if it's not necessarily what we all hoped for.