3.75 stars lol. Book 2 was still the best in the series.

I enjoyed this book very much. Again, I didn't find myself disliking the middle bits as much as some other reviewers, but I'm not adept at critiquing works as I read them. I will say it's hard to reconcile the start of the book with the end... This could very easily have been two separate books with how much things felt different by the end.

Overall I was pleased with the story, but the ending almost felt a bit... Contrived. It was almost TOO neatly wrapped up. Too happy. Maas threatened us with major character deaths and I never once worried about them because I knew she wouldn't kill them... And she didn't. She even actually DID kill two... But not really. She threatened us with our main group being overwhelmed in battle... JUST to have the saving armies sweep in on time. Maybe this is just the Game of Thrones trauma talking, but it cheapens the experience just a bit.

I was discussing it with my partner (he's not read these books), and he said "well ultimately, they either win or they lose right?" And yes, this is true; but it didn't feel like there was any sacrifice or real loss in the face of their win.

Again, I am enjoying these books but do find them predictable to an extent.