I was praying that by some miracle this book could be saved and the story could be salvaged but I suppose I was clinging to a lost cause. I don't understand how this author could have so greatly ruined history, she took a time period and persons in history whom I adored and manipulated it into this terrible excuse of a story revolving around a fake created mary sue. This book in particular could have ended half way through if said mary sue hadn't fucked up, twice might I mention, but of course the author had to drag it on for the sake of her precious invented character and completely abandon the son that lived that should have been the real focus and not just some side tragedy and obstacle for her poorly written insert. 
 It takes a lot for me to dislike a book, honestly it does, but this series certainly kept making me wish to rip the books apart the further I got. Sure there were very few moments that weren't too bad that featured actual historic people who existed, but by the third book it was all about this pathetic 'perfect' character. 
 I am left with a huge sense of disappointment for a world that could have been so fascinating if done right, I'm quite sure I could write a better and proper alternate world that would be a thousand times better than this sad excuse. I'd so disheartened to the point where honestly this book doesn't even deserve any stars.