It’s the characters. I didn’t think I’d come to love Zoya this much, but wow has she won me over. Nikolai feels a bit blond to me still. Sorry: bland. But this book is about him. Sort of. And as the others around him bleed and blossom and expose their innermost—the scars he bears on their behalf enrich him.

And Nina… oh, my heart, what can I say of Nina…? She is torn, broken, a pained and ripping emotion across a quiet page, swathed in subtlety, and so deeply moving. A woman beyond her mere 18 years with the power to forge deep connection with the women of all ages who read her… she has become my favourite character of this continuing series. (I miss her banter with Mathias.)

The story is… well, it seems middling. It’s not all boring, but there are bits that are quite boring. I hate to say that because I love these characters and this world. I miss the voices of the Kerch 6–though it’s nice to have Nina still with us.

I’m just greedy. I want more.