(To be fair, this book was about three stars most way through because while I wasn't loving it, I wasn't hating it. But the ending was just too cringy and frustrating for me, and made me have absolutely no interest in continuing the series).

This book was... meh. There wasn't anything it did particularly well but it also didn't suck for the most part. It was tropey, predictable, and I literally guessed every single twist or plot point 50-150 pages before the main characters finally learned it. That doesn't necessarily make for a bad book of course, but there wasn't much else going for the book.

The characters were... not my favorite. I generally liked all of them, and had moments where I was genuinely invested in the romance between Cohen and Britta. However, the romance was also frustrating because it wasn't quite a slowburn, it was spotty. There were so many moments of intense passion/flirting/almost kisses, only for Cohen to suddenly pull away for no reason (and this was only partially explained). I also didn't necessarily care for the romance after they finally admitted they liked each other, and I hate the turn that the final 'twist' is taking, and the frustrations it probably means in book 2. One thing I did like was how Britta learned about

Spoiler

her power. It wasn't a sudden reveal + her being shocked, but a slow procession of learning that perhaps she doesn't just have instincts, but is actually a Channeler

The plot was interesting but I was never truly invested because I guessed most of the major twists, so each piece of 'new' information didn't keep me engaged or invested. I mostly just felt like I was along for the ride, watching these characters react to information and surprises I already knew. Additionally, this book just dragged on and on. I listened to an audiobook and just slowly kept upping the speed because it felt like I was moving at a snail's pace. The book isn't even that long? It just feels reeeally long?

All in all, I originally had plans to read this whole series + the new book set in the world, but I just can't bring myself to do it. These covers are gorgeous and the texture of the paperbacks is just... so cool, so I'll probably hold on to the books themselves, but the story inside just let me down. I don't think it's a story I'll remember.