This is the book where we get down to business. Obviously it came before Onyx Storm, but there are a lot of similar vibes going on with our main characters exploring outside their own little world and discovering that not all is quite as it seems. Full of twists and turns, shocks and surprises, the narrative just keeps on giving. Until it doesn't...

So yes, there is A LOT going on in here. I didn't necessarily find it the easiest to follow along with every nuance, but for a passenger princess it's a hell of a good journey. Watching Diem grow into her role is really satisfying, but I also like that the author has retainer her character flaws and draws attention to them. My only slight hesitation is that I can feel the author pulling the strings within the writing as the characters travel; there is that underlying tone of them just being pieces on a chessboard rather than the story holding a natural flow.

I'm hugely pleased that Luther finally feels like he's joining the pantheon of shadow daddies in this book. His relationship with Diem and, in particular, the way his devotion to her and her ideals is portrayed throughout is just gorgeous, whether in the midst of battle, in quiet contemplation or in the smouldering looks and flirtatious banter. But, this book is a chonker, and we've been waiting for two books already for the 'big moment'... so needless to say that the UST is delicious to the point of painful, and there was much screaming at the pages willing them to just get it on already! 

I think it's common knowledge that this book ends on a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger it is! The action is reaching its peak, you're already prepared for the worst... and then there's more, just to really leave you wanting. It really pulls together on everything you've learned during the course of the book, and in these moments I found I could truly 'inhabit' Diem's character for the first time. It's a masterstroke and has genuinely left me desperate to know what happens next. And yet, while I know the first three chapters of 'Burn' are available for signing up to the author's newsletter (done and done), I'm in two minds whether to read them... I really do want to know what happens, but at the same time I feel like this is the feeling the author intended you to carry into the next book when it's released, so why would I want to spoil it?! If anyone has read the three chapters and has opinions, please tell me what I should do!!

There are moments in here where the writing is perhaps a bit clunky, and elements where I had to go back and reread because I felt like characters/items/plot points were just appearing from thin air, which detracted from my enjoyment a little. However, I can equally say that I was not in the greatest headspace while reading this one, so some of that may be down to my comprehension and concentration levels being lower than usual. I'm definitely coming back to this series though, and Penn Cole is now firmly on my 'must see' list for RARE25London!