Plot: 4/5
Spice: 3/5
Characters: 5/5

Overall reco: 5 Stars, and this is after I read the bonus chapter from the end of the book.
I have a lot of favorite couples from this series. Nico and Anthony have been my solid pair, and while I loved Nigel/Corwin and Carter/Zeke. I was not ready for Luke and Max. I completely forgot about Carter/Zeke until their little cameo. Shit this scratched my fucking Nico/Anthony itch but honestly, If I don't get an update on these 2 in the next several books I'm going to lose my mind.
I loved the way this played out and while that

beatdown

was so unrealistic.. IDGAF because it was so satisfying. I haven't screamed and cheered at something like that in a while and it was writing in such a cathartic manner. JJ Mulder is very good at leaning into a characters confusion without totally making the reader also feel confused and that was a clear highlight in his book. I don't think I've be nearly as emotionally invested about these 2 dudes if I hadn't FELT right there with ever step of Max's story. He surely wasn't better be the end, but it felt like we'd been there with him on the journey.

(Other Notes)
That bonus chapter had me fucking SOBBING (the download from the website at the end of the ebook.
I NEED to know how their story goes on. I was upset that many of the other characters got to have lives that we didn't get to see into anymore but OMFG I'm RAPID for more. I need to fill my fucking max tank god damn it.