It's 1am, I stayed up to finish this because I absolutely could not put it down, and that was the best possible decision because I am so overwhelmed with how fantastic this book was!

There is just so much to comment on. V. E. Schwab does not pull her punches and within the first few pages I was an emotional wreck. The characters somehow got better, the world building is still incredible, and I'm so glad this was so long because I wouldn't have settled for anything else. All my ships sailed, there were enough character deaths for the threat to be very, very real, but never so many that it became unnecessary.

LOWDOWN:
Kell: There are still so many unanswered questions that I really want to know the answer to about Kell, and I'd totally be down with more books *throws everything I own at V. E. Schwab in payment*. As a character he never disappoints, he's truly wonderful. The complex relationship between him and Holland really made this book, and I can't really think of a good comparison. Brilliantly done!

Lila: Where do I start?! I love that her obsession with her knives continued and that she never lost her Grey London thief roots throughout it all, but still grew enormously as a character.

Rhy: SPEAKING OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT he's come so far since the first book, and it would be interesting to know how much V. E. Schwab had planned out from the start. His story-arc in this book was incredibly moving and powerful, and he deserved so much better. His strength is pretty incredible and utterly believable, which is the best combination.

Alucard: I WILL HOLD HIM CLOSE AND PROTECT HIM FROM ALL HARM FOR THE REST OF TIME. In book 2, when we were introduced to this cocky pirate captain, I had no idea that this is where his story would end. At the end of the last book we saw hints of his more tender side, and within the first few pages of this one my heart was going out to him.

Anoshe.