EoS is brilliant, suspenseful, intense...finishing it was like being punched in the face while simultaneously discovering that you just won the state lottery. Where do I even start? I am SJM trash. If she wrote a manual for a basic kitchen appliance, I would read it. Maas has given so much depth and detail to her cast of characters - some you love to hate and others you adore. She manages to plot the most dramatic and horrific twists throughout. I had to force myself to put this 700 page monster down (but only once), that's how absolutely gripping this series continues to be. 
 The plot has improved along with the pacing compared to the previous two installments of this series. Don't get me wrong, the other books have left me screaming for days on end, but I will openly admit that there were some plodding points throughout. 
 It didn't disappoint. Okay, the only qualm I have is that I really ship Manon x Elide, but that's a personal problem. You will also want to pick up The Assassin's Blade, because some characters from the novellas will finally make an appearance in EoS.