***Mild Spoilers?***

This review is so late so my judgement may be a little so-so, nonetheless I will proceed! This book honestly made me want to change the rating that I gave the first book and I will definitely state that this is the book of backstories (so if you love a good backstory, buckle up!) The characters are deeply explored more and characters who were no more than names or background characters in the first novel are front in center now (rightfully so!). The world building that went into this story and the intricate connecting of puzzle pieces was absolutely wonderful. I truly never knew where this story was going to take me at any moment, which I truly admire in a good book. Although this book focuses a lot on people's past, the action isn't lost. It remains pretty fast pace (with of course a little bit of slower chapters in the beginning as we start to warm the readers up again) and I was engaged most of the time. Near the ending I could not put the book down AT ALL! I wanted to keep going and was so infatuated it was hard for me to put the book down.

I would say it was hard for me to get back into the story after the little gap between the first book and this one (which is completely on me) and had me a little confused on some of the plot points. I felt as if sometimes it got a little too fantasy for me and that the story lost itself a little at some points. But as mentioned previously, once you get past the first third or so you start to get your footing.

Okay, controversial moment here?? Isolde was lowkey kind of getting on my nerves (SORRY! I SAID IT!) There would be moments where I felt like she chose to take things the wrong way or took unnecessary risk even though her people would have benefited better without her doing that. I understand that it is because she is loyal to her people and don't want to be just labeled as "Queen Isolde, Adrian's wife" but sometimes it was uncalled for. Now what REALLY got me was the MISCOMMUNICATION!! Nothing makes me more upset in a story than a lack of communicating with your partner and unfortunately it had plenty of that (more on how Isolde felt). I just can't fathom why she wouldn't want to just tell her husband how she feels rather than ignoring him. Of course I am not trying to sound like I am only blaming her, because I have a bone to pick with Adrian too about how often he doesn't attempt to understand her either. However this brings me to my next point...

SO. MUCH. SMUT. Now you can take that in a good way or a bad way (and don't get me wrong I usually enjoy it) but when it's after every argument it gets old really fast. Like I don't need to read in detail how they are having sex after they just had a very valid argument. Or sometimes they will completely ignore one another and be angry but then just have sex? Like cmon, lets be real, sex doesn't make all the relationship problems go away. It started to get to the point where I would just skip over reading it when it would happen (and its VERY predictable when it's going to happen) only because the moment before it didn't make sense to be solved with just sex. Maybe that's the true reason why they can't get their shit together!

ANYWAYY criticisms aside, I did really enjoy the book thoroughly and I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out. With all the backstories and world building I am excited to see what St. Clair has in mind for the next story. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and jumping up and down so I truly cannot wait to see the next course of events Adrian and Isolde must face together.