*covers mouth with hand* shock would be an understatement to say that i enjoyed this book considering how mildly i was feeling about the first one. first of all let me just say that wrath as a character is just *chef’s kiss* absolutely wonderful. is he a cryptic, lying, evil asshole? you bet! is he also extremely complex and *coughs* sexy? dare i say? absolutely! i almost had no idea what was going on throughout the book when it comes to the mystery because i keep getting distracted but yknow what, you .. know .. what. i had the time of my life. i’m just a wretched, emotionally depraved little twerp, apparently, because there are some scenes in this book *coughslakescene* that got my jaw dropping to the floor like cartoon character and i’m not talking about the general steaminess, no, no. it’s the mental image of gentle caresses and pushing back each other’s hair that got me screaming, crying, and throwing up. it’s the slow burn, baby. it’s the bantz and the enemy to lover and i’m just *covers face with my hands* i’m experiencing warm feelings??? a wretched, cold, vile, little thing like me?! who would’ve thought.
objectively speaking, is this super well written? i wouldn’t know, because i’m too busy rooting for them and i just absolutely love the relationship of wrath and emilia. it’s conversations like

“goodnight my jealous, mighty tongue-slayer”
“you say such horrible things.”
but the gleam of intrigue indicated he didn’t mind. quite the contrary.

“you look like a beautiful cataclysm.”
i laughed, trying to ease the strange tension hovering between us. his choice of words made me wonder just how well he could read my emotions. maybe none of my secrets had ever been safe with him. “it’s every woman’s dream to be likened to a natural disaster.”
“a violent upheaval. i’d say it suits.”

and i just didn’t really care about anything else??? they are great together and i enjoy every moment where they get to talk to each other. and the fact that he had taken care of her (LITERALLY) while she was near death. THREE TIMES. is the bar absolutely on the floor?! why is this making me want to shout at the top of my lungs in excitement??? tropes like “no one else in this world matters except you” and “he seems evil but later i found out he did this and that to help me” is just