More like a 2.75 because all of the tropes that I absolutely hate are used here.

Mal is a whiny little bitch throughout this ENTIRE book.

He's mad that Nikolai is interested in Alina. He's mad that Alina makes her own choices. He's mad that everyone except him realizes the full weight of the situation that they are in. Literally, the most powerful and ancient Grisha to ever exist wants to murder all of you but Mal is too busy being mad at Alina for actually want to do something about it instead of just batting her eyelashes at him 24/7. His false sense of entitlement over her is disgusting.

The Darkling is not a freaking love interest. This man is over 120 years old - he's older than Edward Cullen and twice as creepy.

He is an ancient man who is literally stalking a teenage girl. He put a collar on her and wants to manipulate her for his own gain.......what part of that is romantic?

 

The only saving grace for this book is Nikolai