As Sarah's immense world continues to expand, we get to learn more about each character inside and out. Long-held secrets are revealed, but in true Sarah fashion, more sprout in their wake. I would like to put in a disclaimer and mention that this is a dark, dark fantasy romance. You will be frustrated and devastated by the turn of events and you won't always agree and be happy with the choices the characters make—and that's the point of it sometimes and flawed characters are more compelling to me. Characters in this book make mistakes and the relationships can be toxic but it makes their growth and change more meaningful. There is a lot of suffering, guilt, and grief that all the characters deal with. From book 1 the plot was building itself gradually and woven with an intricate lore that sheds itself more with every book and that's why not all questions are answered right away and when they do, it creates more questions and that what personally keeps me invested in the series—knowing that there is more that I want to unravel and how it ties into the stories of all these characters.

This girl loves self-harming, has to drug herself every night just so she can sleep, lusts over her guardian whose castle she has not left in 19 years, her instructers gave her selected education, she doesn't know and doesn't want to know anything thing about her own world. She is physically and mentally unwell.She gets lost, she gets angry, she gets scared, she makes a stupid decision...around and around we go. I was waiting for her to do something for her own character but she is more like a plot piece for me. Sarah stays true to the dark fantasy romance genre in the sense that nothing is coming easy for any of these characters, and the story is descending towards a darker path. She does not shy away from hurting the characters and the readers, and as a reader myself I'm savoring the pain because I know it's worth it for what's to come.

For now, my heart is full yet still wanting more. We are home and I could live in this world without end. I loved Orlaith. I really delved into her character layer after layer. She is fiesty and mishchevious but maintains the innocence of a girl that truly lived a sheltered life. I was emotionally connected to her and felt joy when she was happy, felt the sour taste of sorrow she was sad, and felt the burning sting of pain when she was heartbroken. I was so impressed by her character development and rooted for her.Cainon, Despte his very obvious evil name intrigue's me. I want to see where we go with the twisty ending and learn more about him The world-building expands through multiple POVs but what I love the most, same as the first book, is how the world is unfurling for the reader the same way it does for Orlaith. I love that we're learning and experiencing things alongside her. I love being in her head and following her throughout this journey. Orlaith is not kept from the world, there is not much of the world out there to discover because it reeks of monsters and deaths. Don’t let me go,” she whispers against my skin. Against the scar she drew. “Never.” -Sarah A. Parker🖤 As much as I have enjoyed the sexual tension and chemistry between them, neither of them are ready for any notion of a romantic love. Orlaith must break out of her confines and let her world expand beyond her tower—and Rhordyn must face his own demons. As of now, they are not a healthy option for each other, not until that power imbalance shifts and for Orlaith to experience what the world, and not Rhordyn, has to offer for her.