I received an ARC through NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

I liked the first book and I liked Isabelle in it, so I was hopeful for this book. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. At least half the plot was driven by the characters making stupid decisions (Isabelle getting attacked at least three times after doing stupid things, Gryphon falling asleep in the wrong place after years of living with his condition...), and I didn't really find the main pair likeable, nor did I feel the chemistry between them. I found myself skimming a lot in the second half of the book.

Having Garrett be part of the plot was interesting in the end, but giving him actual POV chapters was a bit strange. This isn't his story anymore, and I expected this book to be more standalone - but that might just have been my expectation based on other series where each book focuses on a different character. Either way, I feel like some of his POV chapters could have been a short story or something instead of part of Isabelle's book. Including him also meant twice as many side characters that didn't really feel fleshed out.

Lastly, I can handle one reveal of "these two characters are secretly related/linked together", but two is a bit much for one book. Is EVERYONE in this universe related by plot somehow? That's a pretty being coincidence.

-- I know that good feedback is supposed to include something positive as well, but honestly, I struggle to name anything that I really LOVED.

That being said, the next book is Little Mermaid retelling, so there's still a chance I'll pick it up.