Blue and our Raven boys continue their quest, and relationships are still complicated by curses and feelings all around. Unlike The Dream Thieves, this does not micro-focus on one particular character, zooming back out to let us view everyone as a whole. 
 In terms of plot, this one didn't feel as tight as the other installments, or more likely I was wanting more to happen. Some of this might be that if there's a "middle" book for this series, this is it. Stiefvater has to connect what she's set up in the first two books, and prepare us as readers for the conclusion. I was just expecting more forward momentum than this. Big things still happened in our characters lives, they just didn't feel as big next to all the things packed into the first two books. This is not to diminish anything; Stiefvater has many things at work here. And she's great at subtly so there's a lot that will prove important in the future I'm sure. This series still packs a punch and the momentum is still moving steadily forward, it just feels slightly different than the others. For one, the plot heavily played with the Gray Man's boss, and this felt like a distraction to me. I just wasn't as interested in that plot line. That doesn't mean it isn't important. 
 Also there's a moment where Adam learns about street harassment and why it's not okay. This is obviously the most important scene in the book. 
 Despite this, as usual, it's Stiefvater's brilliant character work that really shines here. I just want to see these characters doing things. There is also some create character growth from Adam. I was worried about him. Now I'm still worried about him, but he's in a better mental place. I loved that there were a few scenes were we got to see more of the dynamic between Blue and Ronan. Stiefvater plays our heartstrings in terms of the romantic business at play, but she never lets us forget, or belittles, that this is a story about friends. 
 The plot and relationships offer a strong potential for angst in this novel. Stiefvater gives us a chance to feel these feelings, but never dwells on them. Characters get to feel angry, upset, worried sick, but they soldier on. And they do it with a sense of humor that should never be underestimated. The banter in these books makes them as good as they are. A sense of humor is imperative. Like with romance novels, it's no use taking oneself too seriously, or at least, that's not what I'm attracted to in my fiction. 
 I must admit, I'm a little afraid to come to the end of this series. Not because I'm worried about the ending, I trust Stiefvater on that. She's got the chops, and I know she's going to produce the best ending for her story. Rather, there has been all this mythology and anticipation building up to finding Glendower, and like Gansey at certain parts of this book, I just can't imagine it all coming to an end. I don't want to let these characters go. I would read many books of them just doing mundane, ordinary things as long as they were talking to each other.