4.11 AVERAGE


Ok Melissa....ok......mic drop on that ending!!!!

This series is just
adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The last 40% of this book was really good but the other 60% dragged and was super boring imo!! It didn't help that the first half felt like a copy of ACOMAF (which I love, but if I wanted to reread it I would). 

Also I don't really like either Scarlett or Sorin, I wish we had other protagonists, like Talwin and Azrael, I really like these two and hope they end up together!
adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
medium-paced

Scarlett is infuriating with her secrets and lack of communication… but I will put up with it for our green flag Fire prince Sorin and the really fun secondary characters introduced in this book. Pacing is what I would anticipate for a 5 book series, so just prepare to be left in the dark until it all comes together. 
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

if you love darker character studies, immersive world building with political intrigue, high stakes plotting, found family, and spicy romance, you will LOVE this series! melissa’s writing is so addictive 🖤 i love reading about an MC who finds their chosen family, and has a partner who never dampens their shine, and always shows up for them no matter what.

“she had finally found a place she belonged. she had found someone who came for her. she had found people who did not fear her darkness but understood it. people who wouldn’t leave her alone. she had found home.” 
this WRECKED me 😭 as a someone who’s been a transplant for most of my life, i connected with scarlett on a deeper level when it comes to navigating who, when and how to let the RIGHT people into your life, partnered with that desperate longing to find their home. to see her claim this group as her family was so beautiful!

these characters are quickly becoming some of my favorite found family. i honestly don’t know who i love more. talwyn and azrael?? my GOD. eliza and scarlett’s friendship?!?! 😭👯‍♀️ THE WITCHES!?! ✋😩

i spent a lot of this book wanting to shake callan 😅 but really appreciated the time melissa spent navigating the dynamic between the two of them, it really squashed any room for miscommunication. i ate up the interactions between him and eliza 🤭

the plot is keeping the stakes high, the romance is chefs kiss, some of the reveals have had my jaw on the floor, and others made me SOB. there’s no way i’m going to be able to put this series down! 🖤✨
emotional funny tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Felt suspiciously close to things SJM has written…like a mix of ACOTAR and TOG characters and plot line. Even with very similar names. 

I also felt like the constant fighting between Scarlet and Sorin were exhausting. As was Scarlet never listening to anyone and constantly being combative to everyone.