***SPOILERS PRESENT***

I officially found my favorite character in this series and I like him even more for being a pirate. I highly appreciate any kind of banter between characters and this book was full of it. Nikolai sticks to his values and truly cares about what happens to his kingdom. I really disliked his brother, Vasily, though. Honestly, he had a fitting death. He let his arrogance get the best of him and it put everyone else in jeopardy. I'm glad that the problems that I expected in Mal and Alina's relationship were addressed in this book. It's ironic that Alina used to be the one that felt like she didn't belong, and now Mal and her have completely switched roles. We also got to see how Alina isn't immune to being corrupted by power. By the end of the book there's definitely been a change in her because of the magic. I mean, her hair is white, I assume that is an aesthetic representation of the change. The Darkling has most of what he wants for now. I felt really bad for Genya by the end. She helped Alina and paid the consequences dearly. I'm hoping that now that David and her are reunited we get more of an exploration of how deep their feelings for each other go. Obviously David had been worried about her this whole time and I hope he is able to help her heal emotionally from the trauma she has suffered at the hands of the Darkling. Well have to see in the next book. Can't wait!