When Deonn first announced the cycle would be four books instead of three, I was so curious where the middle of the series would take us, and I'm so delighted by how this third installment has expanded out the world and character arcs. I particularly appreciate how deeply this leans into a teenage protagonist's very valid feelings - grief complicated by overwhelming responsibility and expectation, stifled rage for all the obstacles she's expected to hurdle and all the slights she's expected to ignore, and an undercurrent of fear - fear that she's disappointed the people she cares about most and fear that she won't find a path forward. Bree makes some rash decisions in the middle of this cycle and she contends with the unexpected ramifications of those in this book. It's painfully real. I loved getting POVs from our beloved side characters in this and how many magical traditions we explore in greater depth. There were times I felt lost in the arc of the first half, but it makes so much SENSE when you get into the second half, and I feel like the ground we covered was ultimately necessary to the greater story. I have absolutely no idea where we go from here! I'm scared!