4.42 AVERAGE


A little disappointed… this is my least favorite so far. I’ll still continue to read the series as more books are released though. 
adventurous challenging dark tense 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

I’ve seen a few reviews mention that the story feels too spread out between characters, but personally, I loved that! These books are dense and tense, and shifting perspectives helps keep the momentum up and the monotony out. It adds layers to the world and drives the tension forward in a way that totally works for me.

Also: Shay and Roman! I ate this up. Absolutely living for their arc.

This installment ended with less of a cliffhanger than the previous ones, which I actually appreciated, especially since we don’t know when book 5 is coming. I’m grateful to have a little breathing room while I wait (impatiently).
adventurous 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 challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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: Complicated
adventurous challenging emotional funny medium-paced

SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW

This book feels like the turning point. A masterpiece. I don’t use that word lightly… this book was truly a masterpiece. There’s not enough stars in the sky to give this instalment of the series, unfortunately Goodreads only goes up to 5. But just know, this is an infinity star read.

My favourite in the series was always a City of Souls and Sinners. Something really just hit me with that book and it’s one I thought would never get topped… then I read Smoke and Brimstone. This book… it felt like more. Deeper. Darker. It’s on a whole new level. The emotions spilling from the pages are truly beautiful. You can tell that Kayla Edwards has put her heart and soul into these words. Her writing is incredible, I’ve never had such a visceral reaction to reading before until this book.

I was crying in the first 50 pages. It contains some of the best scenes I’ve ever read, fuelled by pure emotion. As soon as you start this book, the action is nonstop. The found family was out of this world. The way you see our favourite characters reach their limit, reminding you that they aren’t gods, was sobering. It solidified the higher stakes feeling, the tension. There were times when my body couldn’t tell the difference between reading and being in an actual life or death situation.

Thank you for writing this Kayla. I can’t wait for its release date so I can watch everyone fall in love with this work of art.

Right, I’m off to my reading slump now for the next month.
adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-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 emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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: Complicated

Impressive. I'm glad I stuck around and gave this series a chance. Packed with adventure and excitement, this story read like the movie Cloverfield. I felt constantly on edge as they all tried to escape the city, but were separated in the end. A nice build up for the final book. I hope the last book is befitting for this amazing series. And I also hope it's a chonker like the last 4. 
dark emotional funny tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes

I'm not sure I breathed the whole time reading this book.

this was nothing but a car crash, heartbreak after heartbreak and not once did the characters catch a break lol. I also found it was a lot of action, action and more action.

I struggled with the pacing on this one, even though it only took 3 days to finish I felt like I had been reading it for weeks. 

I devoured the previous book and gave it 5 stars but something was missing from this book and I'm not sure what. Darien actually got on my nerves in this one and was preferring Roman more along with his storyline and POV. 

The banter was still good, Malakai and Travis are so funny and their parts did have me giggling, I really like the familiars and remain some of my favourite "pets"

Overall I still really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one.
challenging dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes