Reread 02.06.2014 
 My initial rating still stands, though it may change for the better after I read Ruin and Rising. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good book, I love the writing and the story, and I'm a great fan of the Grisha trilogy, BUT... I have my reasons. 
 Ruin and Rising comes out in almost two weeks, and it will either make or break this whole series for me. 
 Ugh, I'm so frustrated with the book that I would have thrown it against the wall if it were not on my treasured e-reader. 
 What is wrong with Alina? She is making wrong choices all around. I almost hate her after this book. What is she fighting for? What are they all fighting for? What is their goal? Wellbeing of Ravka? It seems like it is the same as the Darkling's, they just have different methods of achieving it. In the end it all looks like a power struggle to me. They should have had some sort of a round table meeting with the Darkling and talked it through like mature people, not fight him. The Darkling is doing wrong, I can't deny it. But so does the king, Alina and almost everyone else with power. They all have killed people, directly or indirectly, so how can they say who is right and who is the villain? 
 Personally I think that Alina shouldn't have fled from the Darkling in Shadow and Bone in the first place. Then none of this would have happened. He did have feelings for her, in his own selfish possessive way and they should have TALKED. 
 And don't even get me started on Mal. He is an amazing character on his own, but paired up with Alina he is pathetic. I don't feel any chemistry between them, just good old friendship. And it should have stayed that way.