If I were to pitch this series to someone, it would be something like: imagine the lovechild of The Raven Cycle and Six of Crows, the sprawling city setting of the latter combined with the sort of unknowable magic system of the former, with the common theme of found family permeating throughout both.

Given the lovable bunch of hooligans you follow throughout this trilogy is just as memorable as both of its parents (both of which were fundamental to the reviewer's teenage years), I loved these fucking books.

There were flaws, some plots were resolved too quickly, some characters disappeared by the end never to be seen, but those were minor complaints. Almost everything came together seamlessly, making me cry like, three times in the process.

Mission accomplished, I would say.

This is a story about belonging, and found family at its core. It is a tad too hopeful at times with its messaging, but I can forgive that. I love it despite its occasional cheesiness. And sometimes because of it. 

I will have to consider it for a larger amount of time, but this might be one of my new favorite series with time. Who the fuck knew.

Edit: changing my rating because the endings of two major plotlines irk me the more I think about them. Still love this series though.