The first time I read this I rated it 4 stars but since then I have changed my rating system so it's down to 3 stars now. I only read The Witch Collector originally because it was available on Libby and knew nothing about it. I decided to re-read the series because I rated the series pretty highly but didn't remember a lot about it.

On reread, I have to say it's definitely one of the better popular fantasy/romantasy series. For people who loved ACOTAR and From Blood and Ash this is a step up. It's not by any means high fantasy and is definitely still more of that YA vibe.

Trope wise, this book does a pretty good job not following them to a T. This book is steeped in violence, gore, and bloody magic just like you'd expect it to be but the magic system is entirely unique. That morally grey MMC you're expecting isn't so morally grey which makes this book, and series, so much better IMO. That kickass powerful girl FMC who doesn't need any man to help her.... actually does kinda need a lot of help. She's still powerful but totally ignorant and naive. Not to mention that she's disabled which is one of my favorite things about this series - just totally casually has a disabled main character. LOVE.

My real gripe with this book is why doesn't Raina grieve more? Okay, yeah, a lot is going on but she just witnessed mass death and survived torturous magic and it's hardly mentioned? I mean, if I had witnessed that I don't think I'd be so quick to move from heart shattering grief to impassivity. Grief to blinding rage maybe but our girl doesn't even really have that either. She cares about individual characters but not really anything else. Just kinda giving nothing emotionally there.