I love the way this book leaned into the story of Rapunzel, with our heroes lost in the desert, blind and bloody. I love how often the "princesses" rescue their beaus - or are intelligent, strong and capable in their own right - and aren't deadweight damsels. And I love the dramatic irony of all these different fairytales weaving together, but none of them knowing the full experiences of the others, so there's a lot of distrust and misinterpretation... It's nice that they're not automatically buddies, they keep true to their personalities while being thrust into vigilantism. The ships, both romantic and space XD, are very sweet (yey Iko and Darla!), and I'm rooting for every single one XD. And, as with the first two books, the worldly conflicts of the plague, racism. refugees, human trafficking, laws which use racial profiling and scapegoating - all very very poignant and timely and hits me right in the heart.

I should be honest, I overrated this book because I enjoyed the ride so much. But it ought to be more of a 4.5...or 4.1... somewhere 4+ish XD. There are a lot of tropes, conveniences, pithy dialogue that dances around getting to the point for dramatic effect, etc. I hate Jacin SO MUCH; there is only one emotionally masked, indifferent and cynical, secretly lovelorn, double agent, and his name is Severus beeping Snape. No one takes The Prince's crown XD. I have no time for Jacin, he's mean and boring, and I hate that HE'S the love interest that's supposed to carry Winter's story. Lame! Plus, big bad Wolf already fulfills the brooding anti-hero quota.

All in all, though, Cress is a great ramp up. Many characters struggle with whether they're doing the right thing, whether noble intentions excuses bad behaviors... It's an uphill battle with a slippery slope on the other side! I am hyped for the finale, and to see who ultimately lands where...