Buddy-read this with Aleks, and that experience was worth 5 stars

I'd rate this 4 stars based on the plot/character development/content in general, but there are things with Schwab's writing that doesn't do it for me, and so the actual rating is 3,5. She has a particular way of writing that I did find unique and consistent (as in, I understand it's deliberate, see my review of the 1st book in the series), and I ended up finding it a bit tedious after 3 books.

I definitely enjoyed the character arcs in this book a lot more than previously, though I am tired of reading about people CONSTANTLY bickering. Rhy, in particular, was well fleshed out in this one.
As for the plot, though there were a few plot excellent developments I didn't see coming, there were also many I managed to predict.