This series is starting to get a littttle more fantasy-ish than I normally go for, personally. I liked the first book so much because it was all contained in the castle and I got some cool magical adventures/characters without having to learn the names of a bunch of made-up countries, but now it's FULL-ON fantasy. (Which I totally understand is a draw for many readers!) But I enjoyed this ANYWAY because at this point I'm pretty invested in the characters, even the new ones added this book. Well played, Sarah Maas, well played.

Also, uhh, this book is like, pretty non-sexually kinky, and I feel like all the stuff about Fae customs & mating rituals--whipping, collars, very intense naked tattoo sessions, biting, "complete submission", etc--is going to like, cause some sexual awakenings for teens. Or at some point they're going to look back on this series and be like "oh, huh." Anyway I'm not saying this book is BDSM erotica, but it's like... totally a gateway to BDSM erotica. JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE in case that serves as either a deterrent or an enticement.

(There is no actual sex in this book. Just a lot of elaborate kinks.)

anyway bye, off to put a hold on the 4th one