This book is a wonderful extension of the Remnant Chronicles series. I fell in love with the story and the characters. Mary E. Pearson has such a knack for creating these cities and cultures that is so intriguing. I can't wait for the next book!

What I liked:

1. The world. This takes place in the same world as the Remnant Chronicles, but it is exploring a part of the continent that wasn't really mentioned in the original series, at least not that I recall. This feels different than any of the other kingdoms from the first series, and I really love that the author was able to create a place that felt unique while also fitting into the established world.

2. Culture and history. This is an extension of the world for me, but I love the way Pearson uses mythology and history to establish the culture of the characters. Jase relating the history of his people to Kazi were some of my favorite of their interactions.

3. The characters. I loved the Bellangers. I wish we'd gotten to know them a little more, but I loved their big family dynamic. Jase is the leader of the family, despite not being the eldest sibling, and I thought it was really interesting to learn about the culture and tradition specific to their family.
I also loved Kazi's group. They definitely have a found family feel to them, which is always something I love seeing in books. It's more than just being soldiers in the same unit. They are fiercely loyal to each other because of their shared experiences.

4. The romance. I love the way Pearson writes romance. Jase and Kazi are forced to depend on each other to survive, and along the way they learn that maybe they aren't so different...I eat that shit up. I loved all of the lighthearted scenes with them - Kazi's riddles, etc. - but also the more intense scenes. Even while they acknowledge the fact that they have feelings for one another, their own sense of pride and duty and obligation are keeping them apart. It's angsty but so sweet and just...gah, I'm a big gushy mess right now. Also, NO LOVE TRIANGLE!! I'm hoping the second book will stray away from that tired trope as well, but at least in the first book, there wasn't even a small hint of a love triangle, which made me so happy.

5. The ending. I liked that it was both tied up, but left open for the next book. The last chapter left my mind racing. What the heck was that?!

What I didn't like:

1. This is nitpicking, but it's because I truly loved this book and am having a difficult time criticizing aspects of it. I thought the reveal about Lia was really obvious from the very first time it was alluded to. I'm not sure if we were supposed to be surprised by it, but it was seriously anti-climactic.

Other odds and ends:

1. This book had several instances of characters not being on the same page as one another. I could see some people criticizing that as unnecessary miscommunications. I would disagree, however. The miscommunications between Jase and Kazi were totally authentic to their characters. They both had specific aims and goals and part of their struggle was that they were wary and mistrustful of the other, for reasons that were valid. They wouldn't (and often times couldn't) confide in the other about what was really going on.

2. I loved seeing Lia and Rafe. I wish we could've maybe had one more scene of them. I also liked the mentions of Pauline and Kaden.

3. There are many spin-off series where it isn't necessary to read the first series in order to understand and enjoy the second, I highly recommend that you read the first series (The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, & The Beauty of Darkness) before going into this series. It will give you a far better understanding of the world and the motivations of the Rahtan soldiers, specifically Kazi.