This book marked an unexpected shift in the series -- I kind of assumed that this series was going to follow the typical romance series format where each book is about a new couple that are peripherally connected to one another, but it was really nice to come back to Adale and Esofi. I thought I was going to dislike the decrease in romance, but honestly, this story didn't feel lacking. It was a lot darker than its predecessors (about an abusive mother and how that abuse affected her daughter) but that also made it feel more grounded.