It just didn't grab me like the first two books. I was originally super interested in learning about the Rycke, but the book lost my interest as it progressed. The Rycke species felt like this huge build up into a species that felt kind of wishy-washy. The species just... didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense, not like others we have been introduced too.

I did like that we got to see how non-military lived in the wastes, but Ghost/Gage just wasn't my favorite character. His story didn't interest me at all. Moth, Rig, Lilac. THOSE characters have depth and are intriguing.

I have to admit that on a second read, I liked this book far more than I originally gave it credit. Even the amount of sex scenes didn't bother me as much this go around; in fact, I think I was too judgmental of them beforehand considering there is significant fade-to-black and off-screen action.

Ghost (Gage) is the perfect character to introduce the audience to the raider camp that's only been mentioned up to this point. He’s highly observant and good at collecting intel. He’s also quiet and reserved, relying on being useful in order to earn his keep. That results in him becoming a scout for his raider camp even though he hates the job. His arc is about learning to stand up for himself, and Aury helps him get there (“You are wonderful, my sweet Gage, but you’re being a bit of a martyr about this. And that’s coming from me. Ryckes are martyrs by nature”).

I think there’s something to be said about Ghost not seeing his worth to the camp unless he does the jobs no one else wants to do, i.e. going out into the dangerous Wastes as their scout. He notes “I was good at sewing. Most people in the camp tended to come to me to fix tears or sew buttons back on” but then later follows it up with “It wasn’t like I could cook, or fix stuff like Rig. I could sew, but how useful a skill was that on its own?” Which makes me want to vent about needlework being seen as a pointless (pun intended) skill when it’s actually critical to making ends meet (pun also intended). Unfortunately the narrative never pushes back on Ghost’s misconception, only ever vaguely asserting he’s useful but never specifying in what ways, which feels like a missed opportunity.

The hurt/comfort aspect of this book is chef kiss. In the beginning it's Aury being rescued from the wrecked military base. Ghost assumes Aury likes his best friend, Rig, more than him, but Aury is just ashamed of being seen in his damaged state. Then Aury steps up to care for Ghost, who's too used to being the sole caretaker in his relationships, such as with Rig being more sheltered and sensitive than him. I enjoyed how Aury fills a gap in Ghost's life while never becoming the only important part of it. Ghost is ready to give everything up for Aury, and Aury recognizes that Ghost would only hurt himself in the process.

This is the first time in the series that the assumptions about the nature of the human-monster relationship is actually justified in the narrative. Cutter accuses Ghost and Aury of doing things in Ghost’s room prior to them being intimate, but it comes with the notion that Cutter is a piece of shit who is disgusted by monsters in any capacity. Later in the story there’s Ghost and Aury explicitly showing affection towards one another outside the Topeka raider camp, so there's no ambiguity there at all.

I like that there’s no big bad villain to overcome in this book. Collector Mary is a villain, for sure, but she doesn’t become THE villain until the next book. Instead the plot hinges on Ghost and Aury’s decisions. And the gradual build up to a rycke’s breaking point. It’s a nice change of pace considering these two are the quietest couple of the series. However, in my opinion, the climax of the story would have been much stronger from Aury’s perspective. It’s a shame that we only get the briefest POV from him at his introduction and then his POV in the epilogue. He’s the one going through the most active plot progression at the climax while Ghost is reactive/passive to the outcome. The angst from the immediate fallout would have definitely been juicier in Aury’s POV since he’s the one with the more pressing anguish. I’m not saying what we got was bad, but it feels like it’s only skimming the surface of something better. 

This story does a fantastic job of setting up Rig to be the lead in the next book. He’s shown to be emotionally supportive of Ghost while also being too caught up in his own bubble and needing a chance to grow up. He’s afraid of the Wastes, and he finally has a reason to put himself out there for a cause. If I had one complaint about him it’s that he tends to overshadow Ghost with his personality. Ghost doesn’t shine unless he’s separate from Rig, which finds its place in this book, though becomes an issue later in the series once they’re back together. I suspect the author also prefers writing Rig’s hyperness the most out of all the characters. 

With that said, I really enjoyed how Lilac and Moth are developed as characters, and future protagonists, with both of them cold on the surface as they each support Ghost in their own ways. Lilac may be ruthless but he has a hidden nurturing side that he only reveals to people who won’t take advantage, and Moth may be emotionally distant but he’s carrying decades of self-worth issues from being a half-monster outcast. However, one thing I never fully grasped is why Lilac softens to Ghost in the first place. Moth, at least, has the excuse of having been a failed love interest in the past. Ghost never outright questions why Lilac gives him preferential treatment, and I don’t currently remember if this is ever brought up in Lilac’s book either. So at the moment it feels like I have to make headcanons to justify their friendship, which kind of sucks, especially considering I also don’t recall Ghost being significant to Lilac in Lilac’s own book. It feels like Ghost fades completely into the background as a character outside his own book and short stories. 

Considering most of my complaints are of how Ghost and Aury get sidelined in the series as a whole, this book itself holds up on its own. Honestly my most grating experience was noting how Ghost’s camp having helped heal small, animal-like monsters in the past is stressed the same way at least four times in relation to whether they should also help heal Aury, which felt way too repetitive. So actually I'm fine with bumping up my rating from a very meh 4.0 to this has the potential to be perfect 4.75.

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My review from my first read:

I think it’s the first time in my life I read an erotic romance book for slow burn whump instead of smut. 

The smut is fiiiine, but a bit excessive. That’s just a trend with this author. Many times I end up rolling my eyes because what feels like it would work as a cut to black ends up continuing on and on with flair of a PWP. 

But the slow burn is chef kiss. Having a great time emotionally on the floor. Couldn’t put the book down. 

There were also a bunch of side characters setup for later books. Lilac has my whole Russian heart. I know he’s not Russian, but he’s honorary Russian to me.

this author sure knows how to keep the interest going! they have a talent for introducing future plot points and characters and seamlessly intertwining it all together. 

as for this book, it was def worth the read. it was much slower than the other ones, and a tad shorter too, but the last quarter of the book..... let's just say that I understand why the rycke is feared by all. I loved the main characters and I can't wait to read the 4th book  :)

Sooooo emo. I loved Ghost and Aury my emo kings. 

I also loved how monsterous Aury can turn into. Goblin sharks are ewwww. Seeing ghost work through that - like seeing him work through how he can still love someone who turns into that - was masterful writing.