More of a 3.5 Stars in truth. This book was enjoyable and fast paced, but also predictable and it spends a long time on the love triangle/ romance aspects of the book and I'm afraid I just wasn't bought into it. I will continue the series, I already own them all, but I hope that they become a little more original. 
 (view spoiler)[ I really wish that more authors were happy to leave childhood friendships as just that without changing the friendship into a romance. I never really bought into Mal and Alina as a couple and until very late into the book I was really hoping Baghra was the villain so that the more interesting Alina/ Darkling romance could return. Once he was confirmed as the villain for the book and no long a romantic possibility I kind of lost interest in the Mal/Alina story line. Her saving Mal is exciting, but I was hoping that Bardugo would have the guts to kill the love interest/ best friend character. Even saying that, I think Mal and Alina work much better at an almost brother and sister relationship rather than lovers. I guess I'm just not a fan of them as a couple yet. (hide spoiler)]