This started out as a four star read for me. Too much time had passed since the first book, and I had lost any connection to the characters. The chemistry between Mare and Cal was forgotten, and I didn't have a tear to shed over Mare's dead friends and allies. Aveyard did her best to reconnect the stories in the first few chapters, but I think a reread of Red Queen would have been best. 
 Then I started to really dig into the story... and it remained a four star read, because it made me so uncomfortable. I am, by nature, an overly sympathetic reader (or person, in general). If the MC is happy, I smile. If she is sad, I cry. And if the story is incredibly bitter, I can almost taste it in my mouth. In this case, Mare is being forced to make impossible choices, to sacrifice not only parts of herself, but also of her comrades. As I watched her walk down this despicable path, I actually began to loathe her. Obviously, I didn't want to hate Mare, since she's a smart, strong and independent woman! These feelings conflicted inside me, and left me feeling at odds with the story. 
 That feeling didn't change as I approached the end of the book, but I was able to see that same war within herself, and felt desperately sorry for her. I reconciled myself with her the best way I could; I cried. Big, fat, ugly tears. I read the last 100 pages in one sitting, refusing to put the book down until I had some sort of closure. Did I say closure?! I meant to say cliffhanger. Yeah, there's no peace for me. 
 Until next year!