At last I'm able to feel something towards this series that rises above indifference! (But Octavia, why are you reading books you don't particularly enjoy? you ask. Because I'm working my way through the Mythopoeic award shortlists, that's why.) And consistently, my biggest issue with liking these books has been the characters. I find Gansey and Ronan utterly ridiculous. And honestly, I don't think you can blame me, given sentences like this: "Sprawled in his khakis and citrus-yellow V-neck sweater, he looked indolent, tossed, a sensuous heir to the forest around him."

That gag-worthy sentence refers to Gansey, by the way. He and Ronan have induced nothing but eye-rolling incredulity from me from the outset, and they're just as silly in this book except, for some reason, there seems to be a lot less of them. Which, yay! I don't know if they actually get less page time, but it feels as if they do and that's all that matters to me. Adam and Blue, while not filling me with unalloyed delight, are a comparative relief, at least when Blue isn't moaning and whining about her drearily endless romantic angst. Thankfully, her mother's missing in this volume so she's got less time to worry about her ill-fated kisses, which is a definite improvement. And Adam, who would be my favourite of the lot if this over-dramatic bunch could be said to inspire any sort of loyalty on my part (spoiler: they can't) whines a little less himself this time round. I can't say that he and Blue get a close focus in this volume, but they feel more featured than the others and with the worst elements pushed into the background I actually liked this one. Plus, plot-wise, it felt like some progress was made at last in this ongoing treasure hunt so, on balance, a restrained thumbs-up.