To be candid, this installment didn’t resonate with me as strongly as the previous ones. The second book laid extensive groundwork for a war I anticipated would climax in a later volume, yet the narrative arcs from the first two books largely concluded in this one. Centered on the cauldron and the efforts to rally the Courts against Hyburn, the plot felt overcrowded, and the resolution too tidy and abrupt, particularly concerning the girl’s father’s appearance. The lack of detail about the missing Queen and Lucian’s influence left me with numerous unanswered questions.
The recurring themes of ‘mates’ and ‘bonds’ became tiresome, and the motif of ribbons, introduced early in the series, felt overplayed. I wished for a slower pace that allowed plot points to mature and be more thoroughly explored, rather than hastening towards a conclusion within three books. With additional books in the series, I had hoped the war narrative would be extended. Bringing the courts together in this book and postponing the war to a subsequent entry might have provided a more satisfying narrative development.
The next book, seemingly a novella, appears to concentrate on post-war reconstruction, and the following novel shifts focus to Nesta. This rapid progression gave the book a frenetic pace, reminiscent of a blend between Game of Thrones and Beauty and the Beast, with its intricate court politics and conflicts. Despite my anticipation, I was left feeling underwhelmed, though not with the series as a whole, just this particular volume. It was a laborious read, and the conclusion didn’t meet my expectations. Nevertheless, the series remains commendable. One aspect I admired was Rhysand’s respect for Feyre’s autonomy, allowing her to confront her destiny without interference, which I found to be a redeeming quality in the series.
