THIS BOOK IS SO SPECTACULAR I HAVE NO PROPER WORDS TO DESCRIBE

Look yall I know these books start out slow and people don't like that or want more or I don't even know but I'm telling you I freaking love this AS IS to me it doesn't need improvement it's telling me a nice plot driven magical adventure story with it's fair share of banter and romance and interpersonal conflicts and talk of faith, sacrifice and its worthiness and usefulness or uselessness, and death trauma and thanatophobia, abuse of authority, manipulation of minors in the name of faith, and deceit, loneliness, with fantastical deities and monsters and this is exactly what my mind needs RIGHT NOW I just love this and this book ok. This review is super biased ignore it but I'm just expressing (very badly) my love.

Dark Tempest at points is even slightly better than Red Winter, the action is wild and painful. The big reveal EYE didn't see coming bc I am kinda slow (I vaguely felt it but I didn't wanna believe tbh) but the emotions were so raw and I really felt Emi's thoughts and feelings and triumphs. Annette Marie's writing is so transportive, I truly feel these characters' feelings. Her banter is outstanding and the love story she's created is so soft and beautiful and passionate and real and aspiring. It's a delight to read! Though there is a moment that touches on consent that I feel could've been done better if Emi had explicitly said “YES” and the scene would have still been passionately hot, but I won't hold it against AM. 

Brittany Jackson's illustrations once again adorned this story to even more beautiful heights and added so much spice. I love seeing my Yumei in all his Raven Prince glory. And Shiro and Emi, my babies. But specially Emi, she's so cute. This book series is YA fantasy romance masterpiece don't sleep on it, folks.