2.5 stars 
 Summary: 
 Kestrel and Arin are apart. 
 Angst, angst, angst, why, why, why, I hate you, I love you, omg character deaths, blah blah blah, SEMI-CLIMACTIC ENDING. 
 It's always awkward giving a lower rating to a book so many people loved, but I'm going to stay honest here. 
 Yes, there was no fluffy romance here, but the plot was still in the makes. 
 What do I mean by that? 
 I mean that the set of events that bring us to that changing moment have just occurred... at the end. 
 The MC was very different than from where we left her in The Winners Curse, but was she truly a "changed" person? 
 Still, this entire novel like the first, was romance driven. I actually had fun with the romance and cared for the characters in the first one. 
 Here everything felt rather anti-climactic. In The Winners Curse, I was able to see the characters grow and a foundation being formed. Here, I saw pointless bickering that would inevitably lead to the same endgame. 
 The first book was setting up the romance, this one was laying down the drive/turning point. I think the realization that the entirety of the first novel was the literal romantic lives of the two main characters, is what's now turning me off the most. 
 The thing is, is that when they were apart like in The Winners Curse, their ever waking thoughts were of each other. It was amplified now, since they are apart more often, giving you a front row seat, of them thinking of the other for an eye rolling amount of time. How can everything still be about their relationship? Honestly, how long can it be dragged? 
 Now, I wasn't expecting Adelina from The Young Elites, badassery, but I was expecting a sort of growth in plot. Instead we're promised change in the next novel. Yet again another laying of foundation, that permits actual action in the final installment. 
 There were constant jumps between the characters and minor deaths, which you couldn't even find a reason to blink to. 
 The most shocking part to me was probably how awful Kestrel's father was. I assume there will be big changes in The Winners Kiss(the name cracks me up), but I could go without reading it and never wonder. The way the "betrayal" panned out was the biggest shock factor to me. 
 Angst was at an all time high here. Everyone was stuck in their own sad circle of misery and when I say everyone, I literally mean everyone. 
 Then we have Jess and Ronan pushed aside, because who cares, take these new characters instead. 
 I guess the only characters we should expect to stay are Kestrel and Arin. 
 There were the odd scenes where "true wuv" made them do things. 
 Like when Arin saw this girl dressed as a maid with a scarf over her head. He was going to walk away but...something pulled him back. Oh my, the power of love! 
 Arin just knew it was Kestrel... he recognizes her hands anywhere! Look at those fingers, they're hers! Of course he has eyes that allow him to see in the dark, and in such stunning detail! 
 God Kestrel, you should just go into hand modeling! 
 His literal words: 
 "He knew that gesture. 
 He knew that hand." 
 At some point I stopped caring what they thought of each other. No one would listen, they acted like bickering children. Arin asks Kestrel to tell him the truth, yet he refuses to let her speak and instead accuses her. "Be honest" is what Arin constantly asks, but every time she tries to respond, he shuts her down. How can you consider someones honesty when your ears are filled with your own voice? 
 It all felt like watching a train wreck that could so simply be stopped, but no one wanted to take the few seconds to fix the malfunction. Instead you get them yelling that there's going to be a crash. 
 Also, the stupidity ran to a new degree. 
 Arin stole Kestrel's dagger as a threat to the Emperor. He fully knew that by showing it off it would mean he "slept" with her(which he didn't of course). How was that an intelligent gamble? Yes you may be free to leave, but do you assume she will go unpunished? 
 Don't worry though, that was brushed aside. Nothing happened to her shockingly. Not until the end at least. 
 Do you know what this truly reminded me of? 
 The 100 (tv version). 
 If you know Lexa and Clarke then maybe you can see the similarities. 
 Arin is Lexa, who saved his people and let Kestrel's/Clarke's die. 
 Kestrel/Clarke had to make the difficult decision when it came to saving her people, which she now pays for. They both cannot forgive themselves. The people they love loathe them and they're both still in love with Arin/Lexa. 
 Then they start working together, though it seems traitorous. In the end both are doing what's best for their people. 
 I know it's not a deliberate similarity, still I enjoy seeing it this way. In a form, it grants me the ability to care more for Arin and Kestrel, by giving them a quality that two of my favourites have. 
 Will I be reading the next one? 
 Only because everyone says it's much better, but I'll take my time. 
 Overall thoughts: 
 Now I will go mourn over the mid-season finale of The Mindy Project. If you guys have seen it... cry with me. 
 While reading: 
 They're constantly thinking of each other and at this point I wouldn't be surprised if she fell into a pit and thought, "I remember Arin's hair, it matches this darkness." 
 I took a break from this to catch up with The 100 and wtf. Two of my ships DESTROYED in one season!??! 
 Well at least my hearts prepared for breaking. Bring it on The Winners Crime, I'm ready to get my heart re-crushed. 
 Me: I wonder how far along I am? 
 *looks at percentage* 
 60% already?! Since when did I speed read? 
 Kestrel saying she doesn't want Arin... 
 Me: 
 Them trying to not have feelings for each other has just got me...