Unlike ACO-whatever where things sort of start happening & you catch up later & go “yeah makes sense”, this 1 has worldbuilding, a more modern/unique world. As such, the first 1/2 of the book moves slower, but there are important little breadcrumbs that come back later in the story. It was great, I loved Bryce. & as always, Maas can write the Hel out of a hurt comfort scene, a trope for which I am a huge sucker.