This was better than the second book in the trilogy, with a plot that actually moved at a decent pace, but was still bogged down by tiresome internal dialogue. The plot itself was enjoyable, with several major twists. My biggest qualm was finding the introduction of a new love interest for the protagonist awkward, distracting, and unnecessary. 

while i was reading the first book and the second book, i kept getting glimpses of the type of emotions i felt while reading novik's 2015 novel uprooted, and i was chasing that feeling so much. i really craved it. i was worried that i wouldn't feel entirely fulfilled by this series. instead, the first and second book began to take on a much more nostalgic and beautiful feeling in my mind as i read this last one. it truly felt like every moment mentioned throughout the entire story began to matter deeply to me as i read the ending of the character's story arcs. everything that happened in this book was incredibly meaningful because it all mattered and it all made perfect sense. this would have probably been a perfect book if the narration had been more refined and some of the concepts hadn't been overexplained, and if novik hadn't tried to write a story from the perspective of a very british teenager as an american middle aged woman, because some of the words and slang used felt very forced, haha. but i didn't even mind it by the end! this story ended in such an insanely beautiful and moving way. it gave me literally everything i felt i wanted from these characters. i don't think i can say enough how wonderful it was to read this book. everything i do have to say is spoilers, so i won't say it here, because it's just so gratifying to read these books and watch the story unfold so lovingly firsthand!! power of love and friendship forever and ever. everything is always worth it. never give up. i love that we got two separate instances of the main character being bisexual. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naomi Novik wants to hurt me 

I am glad Naomi Novik remembered how to write a novel rather than a worldbuilding essay in time for the third book. And I am glad I stuck with the series. While the first and second books explained their fictional world at length, we finally get to explore it. We literally travel around the world and really get to the bottom of it, each revelation more disturbing than the last.

El's snarky narrative voice is at its best in this book, and I found her character growth convincing, especially regarding her growing appreciation of her mother's choices.

Enough has been said about the political allegory - it is clever and terrifyingly true.

Really enjoyed the first two up until the ending of the second which was confusing and seemingly nonsensical. Glad I stuck with it, this was everything I loved about the earlier books and the book two ending was fixed in book three as well.

I love latter books of a series that cause you to have horrifying realisations about the earlier books, and this had them in spades. 

The masterful world building that Novik gets to display in this story was blowing my mind left and right. It truly feels like a completion to the Scholomance Series.

El, Orion, Aadhya, Liu, and even Liesel have a part of my heart with this story. ❤️

LOVED. Such a good ending to the trilogy, it all wrapped up so nicely while still leaving some some stuff open ended.