Hear me out … the book wasn’t that good 😩 and as a fourth wing apologist, that’s tough for me to say because I really wanted it to be!! 

We pick up where we left off in the first book with a developing story and a heavy cliffhanger. It’s riveting but also loses momentum as their thrust back into their war college as if there’s not more pertinent things going on. There are a lot of new characters and sparse significance placed on the importance of their characters…but not much development of their background and just a lot of questions unanswered and what I deem as unrealistic reactions and realities like Sloan and Araic specifically. Like… Sloan holding contempt for Violet but having no context surrounding the death of her brother is WILLLDDD. It makes her character development unrealistic for me. Also AINT NO WAYYYY the kingdom isn’t searching for their LOST. PRINCE. And also… when did Poromeil become an aristocracy!? 

But the disorganization of the plot and the character arcs are what REALLY brought me out of the story multiple times, which is why it was so incredibly hard for me to finish. I really came out of this book disliking Violet, which is rare for me to dislike an FMC… but I think so much time was wasted on her ruminating on what she didn’t know and respectfully as a second year cadet, dating a powerful lieutenant and having family that ranks significantly higher than her…you’re not going to know things because you still have SO MUCH growing to do yourself…you’re not allowed to know it all. Xaden. Sweetie. Tell the truth, but you kinda can’t because I don’t even think YOU know what truth is and that’s fair. So I stand beside you tip toeing around Violet in the fights because lol, we are also confused why you’re fighting…

The conversations between her and Xaden were infuriating to read … not even Violet could explain why she was so upset at Xaden like ahaha… Xaden better than me I would’ve been done with her 💀

The ending is … how? How does that work? In confused on the flashbacks and the dreams now? And how does his relationship with Sgaeyl exist behind his decision making and WHY did he make that decision and how did he come out of that situation with the general…we literally get NO CONTEXT.

I’m just. Spent. Having read this book and not being able to make connections and truly understand what’s occurring … I’m tired and disappointed to say the least lol.

What saved this book for me were her relationships with her siblings and mom. I was HERE for the Lilith redemption arc THROUGH and THROUGH. There’s something so beautiful about how she stands up to her mom in multiple ways, while also keeping the respect for her and her position as her general and her mother. The same goes for her Brennan and Mira. They love Violet so much and care for her but don’t hold her back and know what she’s capable of. You can see the pride they have for her throughout this book, by how they stand beside her and correct her, and push her to find her voice and use it. She’s a powerful rider and they truly wanted her to see that beyond who she was connected to and her last name. 

I’m really hoping it turns around in the third book because… in the famous words of t swift… 

“Stop. You’re losing me…”

Peace and love to all the readers living is disarray after this read lol. 😩🤍🫶🏾