Rating: 4.5 Stars

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

I’m wiping away tears as I write this. The ending has absolutely shattered me—in the best and worst ways possible. Sequels are always harder to review, so bear with me as I try to express how I feel without getting too bogged down in details!

Right off the bat, the one-year time jump in this book hit me like a ton of bricks. After all, we all know that Thea’s time is running out. But what really stood out to me was the raw, furious rage Thea unleashes as she hunts down Wilder Hawthorne. I absolutely loved watching her take charge in this way. It was intense and cathartic—but then, I also couldn’t help but feel heartbroken seeing how she treats her friends and how much of herself she’s lost since Wilder’s betrayal. It was like my heart was breaking right alongside hers, and I could feel Wilder’s pain as I read.

At first, I was frustrated with Wilder for dragging Thea around the realm for a whole year without offering any explanation for his betrayal. I honestly wanted to see her confront him with the full force of her fury. But, as I finished the book, I understood why it had to play out this way. It became clear that this experience was essential for Thea’s growth—and for the evolution of her relationship with Wilder. Despite everything, they had to go through this in order to survive and learn. Wilder’s actions were ultimately about protecting her, but Thea, blinded by her loyalty and abandonment issues, couldn’t see that at the time. Her deep fear of being betrayed was something I could really relate to, and seeing her struggle with that was both painful and enlightening.

I’m beyond thrilled that I was right about Artos all along, but I’m still suspicious of his daughter and her role in this story. I’m also so happy we finally got to meet Anya! She’s such a strong character, and my heart broke for her. To be so young and thrown into darkness, used as a scapegoat—it was gut-wrenching. On top of that, I knew someone would end up in the Scarlet Prison, but I didn’t expect who it would be. The foreshadowing was perfect, even if I guessed wrong about the character. I really thought it was going to be Thea.

 

This third instalment of the Thezmarr series delivered so much—both in terms of plot progression and character development. At first, I was unsure how I’d feel about the year-long gap, with Wilder’s absence and all, but by the end, I can confidently say this book was phenomenal. I can already tell this is shaping up to be one of the greatest series I’ve ever read.

Now, here are some of my favourite moments from the book, pulled straight from my notes app with no context (because yes, I’m that person):

-RAGEEEE THEA RAGEEEE
-CONSENT KING WILDER
-Cal and Kip are perfect friends—I would die for them
-The taverns—honestly, they’ve become my favourite part of the series
-Anya is a BAD BITCH
-Kip’s hilarious connection to the taverns
-The sibling dynamic between Thea, Wren, and Anya is spot on—classic older, middle, and younger sibling vibes
-Literally sobbing when Thea realizes she’s going to the rite
-HER OWN FUCKING ARM
-Bawling my eyes out as she talks to the Furies and asks for their names—bro shut the fuck up