I am not sure on my thoughts of this trilogy so far. . .

The books are of a decent length, I appreciate and enjoy that they are not as long as other fantasy novels. However, even with fewer words I feel sometimes the plot can drag on the slow parts of the book. Slower parts were better handled in this book than the first book . I find often authors struggle to understand there can be months of tedious training sessions or planning or waiting and still events can take place to do with and move the plot, rather than going back and forth.

This book was a stark improvement from the first book, but I rated both 4 stars, because first books tend to have a more concise plot - even if in the middle it was somewhat lacking. In the second book, the plot takes place at sea, on foreign lands and explores more of Os Alta. Alina Starkov's journey has drastically changed and shes is now facing many challenges but most disturbing and present is the inner turmoil or the darkness inside her and who she really is. Great character dynamics between Alina and Mal play out and truly represent how she changes throughout the book. There are also more characters to contend with, most don't feel placed there just for the sake of it or to bring minor thoughts in the plot, but hold their own story and purpose. The writing isn't some complex masterpiece but it mostly suffices for a short - mostly action packed - YA fantasy.

I realised while daydreaming a MASSIVE piece of plot that was hinted and can now only be explored in the last book. I bolted upright as the realisation came, grabbing the book to reread the scene. This is huge and I don't know the wider picture and how everything works and will play out, but I get the striking point and I'm excited and scared.