I read this as an email book, so I kept putting it aside for a while. This is the first book in the series where the main characters are not Elena and Raphael. While I enjoyed learning about Dmitri's past and Hope, there are other characters that I would rather read about their past. Illium is one, along with Jason and Aodhan. It was a surprise to learn the twists in Hope and Dmitiri's relationship but I began to suspect it early on in the book. I was really able to care for Dmitri more (even though he will never be my favorite) and respect him for everything he did for the sake of his family. He really loved them and went beyond the expected to protect them. A great addition to the series.