** spoiler alert ** 
 I'd have chosen 3.5 stars if 1/2 stars were an option. I'm torn between 3 and 4. This book is great, but also FRUSTRATING! 
 Here are my two problems with this book: 
 I hate a love triangle (which really should be called a LOVE V). 
 And I HATE cliffhangers! 
 Problem the first: I think a person who can equally "love" two people at the same time are just noncommittal cheaters-in-waiting. And the two people who want to be with the same person are just as bad. Worse maybe! Besides, is Evie really that amazing? I guess I get that Death has no other choice. Which, oooo, how romantic? . I guess I also get that there aren't many females left in the world and options are limited. Still not a good enough reason for a love triangle (which again really should be called a LOVE V). 
 At least there IS a love triangle...unlike the manufactured love triangle in the Hunger Games movies that really didn't exist in the book. 
 Too much love triangle, not enough Arcana conflict! 
 Problem the second: No explanation really needed, I suppose. The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger. I hate that. Look, Kresley Cole, I will buy and read your books. All of your books. I mean, I bought and read Lothaire, the abomination that it was (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), and have continued to purchase all of your books. I'm all in. Whether every conflict and storyline is wrapped up in each and every book, seeming to leave nothing for future books to tackle, I WILL READ YOUR BOOKS. There is no need to entice me to buy the next by not finishing out this one. Cliffhangers are evil. That is all. 
 Plus, The Emperor wasn't even in the book. Then at the end he shows up just in time to thwart Evie and Jack's reunion. We don't even know this guy! I guess in this kind of game, Arcana could show up any time and kill the others. I get that. I would have liked to have at least MET the guy! Next book I suppose. 
 But that isn't to say I didn't love the book! I devoured it like I do with all engaging stories, couldn't wait to finish, was disappointed when I did. I really like how Jack has evolved, though I still suspect he's the Arcana who hasn't been activated yet. NOT the Emperor, which was my previous theory. But something. My money is now on The Chariot. He's just too much not to be. I would love it if he remains mortal throughout...but I can't help my writer's brain seeing how he kills an Arcana, becomes Arcana, and fights his instinct to kill Evie and the others. Maybe loses his memory of loving Evie. Maybe remembering previous lives where she was evil and killed him. 
 Anywhoo...I hope Selena really isn't dead. I hope Jack survived. I hope Evie stops waffling between the two. She chose Jack. Good on her! Now, even if Jack is dead and gone, if she turns back to Aric I will cease rooting for her. 
 Frustrating or not, I can't wait for the next one!