"Never again.
She would never be weak again.
She would never be at someone's mercy again.
She would never fail again.
Never again, never again, never again."

This might just be my favorite book of the series. If there’s one thing SJM knows how to do, it's to write one hell of a healing journey.

Nesta’s story, her healing, her growth, was a gift to us readers. I’ve loved Nesta as much as I’ve loathed some of her actions from the very beginning, but to see her truly reach the lowest of lows, which seemed already very low in ACOFAS, and truly hit rock bottom and come out of it, was inspiring. The power of friendship, trust, and love saved her from herself and gave her life.
The determination to hit the 10,000 steps… you could not catch me attempting that.
Her love for music and dance was surprising for someone who has always been so reserved and reluctant to share any intimate part of her soul.
Sacrificing her power to save Feyre, Nyx, and Rhys was so Nesta, who she has always been. Finally being able to act in accordance with her heart, her inner self, showing it to the world made me very proud of her.

"The world was beautiful, and she was so grateful to be in it. To be alive, to be here, to see this."

Cassian is a teddy bear. I adore him. He showed more kindness, bravery, and cleverness than I was expecting to read. And that filthy mouth of his, Mother above.
I wish we had learned more of his past, I feel like he mostly skimmed over what he’s had to live through, going over what we already knew.
The love he has for his friends, for his family, for his mate is unconditional and beautiful. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve and that might be his greatest asset, to freely show and be proud of his feelings. A secure man.
The empathy he showed towards Eris in the end solidified the growth he gradually built throughout the story.

"There will be no one else. For either of us.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Ever,” he promised.
“Ever,” she swore."

I absolutely reveled in reading their romance. The mating scene, the joining of their souls, was beautiful.
They fought, well, Nesta mostly fought, with herself to acknowledge their love, their bond. Cassian had to be brave to admit to her what he always knew and never shied away from, despite the fear of rejection and having his heart torn apart being a constant presence.
Different sides of the same coin.

"You are my mate, Cassian.”
“And you’re mine."

The Valkyries were an essential and amazing addition to the story. Without friends who had suffered from brutal pasts and could learn to heal alongside Nesta, this book wouldn't exist. Emerie and Gwyn made my heart warm. Brave, strong, kind, always there for one another.
True friends make life worthwhile.

"Friends who had become like sisters.
A chosen family.”

“I wish for us to have the courage to go out into the world when we are ready, but to always be able to find our way back to each other. No matter what."

The House was such a surprising element that I fell completely in love with. It took care of Nesta, soothed her, helped her even, specially, when she didn’t want to be helped, shared her love for reading, exchanged books, and became a friend, a big sister, and a mother. Home.
The scene when the House went along with all of their absurd wishes and exceeded their ridiculous demands even further, it was the fourth member of their sleepover.

"The House sings. I can hear it in the stone … you caused this house to come alive … you made the House."

Amren’s friendship and what it meant to Nesta was powerful to read. Her heartbreak over her past actions and being able to understand them and apologize for them were key parts of Nesta’s journey. She first accomplished the ten-thousand steps over it. As much as Amren is blunt and harsh with her words, her honesty, she’s not wrong. Without them, Nesta wouldn't have grown like she did.

"Keep reaching out your hand."

Nesta’s growing relationship with Az was also another positive surprise. She cared about him standing away from the family during Solstice, noticed why, and went up to him. What that action meant for Cassian was very touching.
Az’s Solstice gift to her was incredibly thoughtful, and Nesta’s reaction to it, hugging him in front of everyone, was wholesome.

”A home. The House of Wind, Velaris, this
court … they were her home.”

PS: I was extremely disappointed with Feyre’s pregnancy, the girl is barely what 22? Has had to endure and overcome and sacrifice so incredibly much in such a short span of time and now she’s a mother?? After saying she wanted to enjoy her life with her mate, for herself, travel and discover the world … so sooooo tired of motherhood always being the ultimate goal for women. That somehow without it their lives aren’t fulfilled. Ugh.