This one is much better than Flashback.

For starters, Sophie finally realized that Fitz is abusive, although she decides to remain friends for whatever reason.

Dex and Biana get more page time (yay!). FINALLY.

Foster-Keefe is also that much closer to reality, although it broke the pattern in the last two books of great reveals.

And, there also seems to be a hint that Linh is gay, which is great because I really want to see what happens with that in the Elvin world.

Finally, we also focus more on the big problems, instead of ships and new abilities and such. Which is AMAZING.

This book is predictable, yes, but it is definitely worth your time. However, it does not really feel like a second-to-last book, which is concerning because Messenger, you're great and all, and I love Sophie and the gang, but it's really getting time for the main series to end. I would not object to a spin-off, though, so long as it's not like Warriors or Wings of Fire, because no one wants that.