Actual rating: 3.8/4

Granted, I was not disappointed how this one turned out. I just think it was an ‘okay’ book. It saddens me because I LOVE ACSDAL and it was one of my favourite books of 2019.

This book focusing more towards Emberfall’s commander, Grey, which was expected after the reveal happened in the first book. He’s my second favourite character after Harper. And as expected, I enjoyed his chapters the most.

However, I find the new character Lia Mara just an okay and kinda generic princess character. The romance bored me, and I honestly feel like its forced compared to the romance for ACSDAL. I wanted to root for them but I just felt off reading this book.

I love the phasing. I love Grey. I love how this book stressed me the fuck out over it’s politics and angst.

But, where is Harper’s chapters? She’s my favourite and lack of her while she is the MAIN character in the first one just...

What about Rhen’s? This prince whom I adored and rooted for in book one who’s trying his best to be a good ruler but this book make him.... despicable. Honestly, give him a break. He had faced enough.

I feel like this book will work tremendously if we have more Harper and Rhen’s chapters. Harper on her view and experience living in Emberfall during political tension. Rhen with his agony as a ruler facing threats. And honestly, having Harper’s chapters more in comparison to Lia’s, could make this book better.

This book didn’t disappoint me, but it made me less enthusiastic over what’s gonna happen to Rhen. I’m in a fear state that he would turned like Tamlin is in ACOTAR and I just not on board with it.

But I am here to read the 3rd one.