Okay, where to begin... Firstly, I know I put 4 stars but really it's more 3.5 stars or maybe 3.25? Second, I'm still a little annoyed by this book so I'm probably just going to sound very jaded. 
 Alright, so, let's start off a little more positive: 
 1. The characterization issue that I found in the second book is gone in this one. 
 2. The plot drives forward continuously and really kept me on the edge of my seat. 
 3. This one was much better compared to the first two, in that it was better written, and I actually was so pulled in by the story and characters that I read it in one day. I think that the first and second had a couple strong points comparatively in certain aspects, but overall this book was far more consistent.....until the end. 
 Now on to the criticisms (may include spoilers since a big issue I have is the ending): 
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 I was so happy that Alina was finally coming into her own. She was learning to trust others, to forgive, and learning to reconcile her complex feelings about the Darkling and her powers and her role and Mal.... And then it all just blew up. This ending was a perfect example of giving the characters what they wanted, at the expense of the story. Don't get me wrong, I understand why the author chose to end the story this way and it definitely still makes sense as an ending, it was decent, but I feel like there was a great ending in there somewhere that we never got to see. 
 It ended up feeling like Alina went on this whole journey of self-discovery and was finally becoming a strong character, and then completely relapsed and went 85 steps backwards. She ended up becoming this broken character that got what she originally wished for. It honestly reminded me of the phrase, "be careful what you wish for." Alina spent a large chunk of the story pining over Mal and wishing she wasn't important, and then just when she was coming to terms with who she was meant to be, and figuring out that she is strong and important, she just reversed track completely. The problem with Alina and Mal is that they're actually very co-dependent and toxic for each other. Yes they loved each other, but sometimes love isn't enough. Alina having her powers gave her independence and strength that she didn't need Mal to have. I don't think that her and Nikolai were an endgame option either really though. I would've liked to see Alina take charge of her life finally instead of leaning so heavily on Mal or letting people use her for their own aims. Alina would've been great in a leadership role, and could've continued bettering the country, and instead she's relegated to this domestic existence that isn't going to let her continue to grow. She was just SO CLOSE to becoming a strong and independent boss lady and then she just runs into the background instead. I don't agree with her and Mal ending up together, and I don't agree with her losing her powers and fading into a grey background. 
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 The rest of the book was so so good and I would've given it a 4.5 star rating or maybe higher than that, if Alina would've continued her journey to become the strong lady that was inside her.