The world building is intense, but that intensity allows a lot of books and crannies for the plot to burrow into. It took me three tries to read this book and it was WORTH IT for the last ~200 pages. It was an INCREDIBLE ENDING. Everything was perfect, down to the last minute detail. Micah cornering Bryce in the gallery library. Bryce saving Syrinx. Lehabah’s sacrifice. Bryce killing Micah. Hypaxia setting Hunt free. Hunt killing Sandriel. The fight in Asphodel Meadows. Bryce revealing her Starborn powers and closing the Heart Gate. Hunt sacrificing himself to keep Bryce alive. Bryce making the Drop. The love between Bryce and Danika being what allowed Bryce to make her Ascent. SJM put crack into the ending of this book and I wholeheartedly support that decision.