i wish i loved this dammit! i loved [b:The Devouring Gray|36535913|The Devouring Gray (The Devouring Gray #1)|Christine Lynn Herman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543850974l/36535913._SX50_.jpg|58262762] so much, it was a story that had me hooked, i couldn't sotp reading it to the point where i finished it in one night. and i was left with this longing feeling for the next installment.

well, here's the next installment and i couldn't feel more lukewarm about it. i dunno what it is about last books in the series and the lack of excitement or fulfillment i've been feeling this year, but it's really bumming me out. there wasn't much keeping me invested in this story besides a few of the characters, and that's a huge change from the end of the first book, where i loved most of the main crew if not all of them. where i was rooting for their victories and upset over their situations.

in particular, the one character i feel i've stayed the same in my love with is isaac. he was my favourite in the first book and he remained my favourite in this one. he really gave me life, with his development and the problems he overcame with his brother gabriel, who i surprisingly wish we knew more about. i think the sullivan piece of the founder's group was the most interesting of the backstories.

and may hawthorne was an unsuspecting character i began to care for, too. her growth from where we saw her in the first book to now really shook me to my core. i can't help but root for her, or actually feel on the edge of my seat when she chose options that wouldn't benefit her. you go girl, give me everything!

all in all, i'm probably gonna forget how upset this conclusion made me because i'm going to want to keep the fun and adoration i had for the first book in my mind. let's forget this book ever happened, alright? alright!