This book, you guys. This book. is. wonderful. 
 I have read all of Sarah J. Maas' works, and while I find them generally enjoyable, usually my enjoyment goes from "meh, that was entertaining" to "Oh, that was cool I look forward to what comes next." The first book in the series "A Court of Thorns and Roses" was somewhere in between those two. I liked the world (even though I felt she could have done more world building) and I liked Feyre, but I hated, HATED the romance between Tamlin and Feyre. It was too much, too over-the-top, and I felt like it was downright unhealthy, honestly. However, I knew at the end of the book that a new character (Rhys) would become more important in later books, and his character was intriguing and I know Maas has a habit of keeping you on your toes so I decided to give the sequel a chance. 
 Oh am I glad I did. What a book! I can honestly say that I love Feyre now. She has grown so much since the first book that I barely recognize her. And I love the focus of this novel on the theme of growing and moving on, because love isn't easy and sometimes the person we love most is no longer healthy for the person we have become. This is reality. And Maas handles it with sensitivity. And Rhys and Feyre's relationship was a slow burn love which felt real and organic, unlike the passionate lightning strike love of Feyre and Tamlin. I also really enjoyed how Maas dealt with the effects of the first novel, no one can go through things that these characters did and come out the same, and she delves deep into the psychological turmoil of these characters making them more real and making the challenges they face much more emotionally gripping. 
 Also, the ending of this book? Totally satisfying. It is not a cliffhanger per se, but it makes me yearn for more. I don't know if I can handle another year wait!