I was really so torn on what to rate this book, I have so many thoughts. As always, Chakraborty’s writing is absolutely impeccable, she worldbuilds like no other. However, this was one of the most stressful books I’ve read in a long time, and there’s a few reasons, much of which are my own personal feelings and have nothing to do with the quality of the book, just my personal experience of it. One thing I love so much about this series is how deeply human and real all of the characters are. They are so complex and all are motivated by really relatable desires for peace, love, justice, etc. They do bad things, but you can’t be mad at them because you get it. It creates such deep frustration with characters like Dara for example because I truly believe he is such a good person but his actions are so deplorable in this book, but you can’t be too mad because you understand why he’s driven to do what he does no matter how wrong it is. I’m so attached to all of these characters.
I do feel like the pacing of this book was mildly infuriating. The entire book filled me with hopelessness as it constantly felt like the characters were struggling to get a leg up and failing right up until the last 10% or so of the book, hence the enormous amount of stress I felt throughout.
All in all though, incredible book. Twist ending was slayed once again, and I simultaneously can’t wait and am afraid to finish the series.
Side note, I really appreciate an author that can create deep emotional turmoil without killing off main characters (up until this point at least) I am too sensitive for that so it keeps the book interesting without absolutely emotionally devastating me.