I was pleasantly surprised with this third installment. If you've been struggling through the first two, keep with it because the third is actually enjoyable and worth reading. 
 It is still cliche and predictable at times, but much improved regarding detail and the story itself. It gains a depth that the first two never even touched. The ending was unexpected, and while it's not what I would prefer, it fits the story perfectly. 
 I am still annoyed with the random scene changes which distract from the story and cause it to flow unevenly, but they are less frequent than in the first two. I am thinking by now that this is just a quirk of the author which she seems to be maturing out of. 
 While it's still not up to par with other series or novels of it's genre and themes, it's extremely improved compared to Smith's previous works in the series. I'm actually glad to have kept pushing on.