It took so long to finish this because I struggled when they struggled. Even when they're together, they have a mountain of issues to deal with - not least of which is how to communicate with one another. When I realized Ree was home with Evie and

she was gonna be threatened by the final confrontation with Ree desperately trying to keep her safe,

I put the book down for a month. 🥲

While this is mostly an erotic romance novel and that part is fine, the fact that

Cam is the son of the leaders of fae society & he and Molly will be "voted in" to be the next leaders 6(!!) months after she becomes fae/they mated is crazy.

It hand waves too much world-building (or lack thereof) for my personal taste.

Someone who barely knows anything about the fae

becoming their political/social/economic leader

is beyond belief for a long-lived species.

Sex scenes were well done, but I wish more world building was dedicated to the reality of their "side hobby". Sure does seem like a lot of people in their lives know what they do.

Turns out I really just don't care for puppet storylines, idk.

Did I spoil myself a little for the end of book 5 and 6? Yes. Do I care? No - I needed the palate cleanser to keep going because these men really trying my last nerve.

This would have been a very different book (and likely better) if Ann had allowed herself more emotional distance before committing to it. Unfortunately, the book contract existed well before Ted was arrested for the final time and I'm sure the economic stress as a mother of four did not help. Each afterword in this edition (1986, 1989 - after his execution, 2000) read like she's finally able to become a little more objective each time. She reflects on her feelings about Ted and each time she comes to a conclusion about his character that seems more in line with the serial killer he became, even if the Ted he showed her was someone entirely separate.