I am thrilled with the way this series went. This was a phenomenal ending to a surprisingly beautiful and thrilling series, and it is completely worth pushing through the first book. Rutkoski's writing is lush and vivid, which is one of the reasons I decided to continue with the series after book one. It wasn't until I read The Winner's Crime that I was completely hooked with this series. It has completely evolved from its original overwhelming romance, into a dark and clever series. 
 "You don't need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon." 
 This is the defining quote that truly encapsulates Kestrel, and is one of the main reasons that she continued to be a favorite character of mine. The level of maturity in this book is unreal, and the depth and rawness of Kestrel's character in this particular book is everything I could ask for and then some. I knew I would like Kestrel from book one, purely because she wasn't the type of heroine that would constantly be beating her way through her problems. She thinks deeply, and her strongest suit is her ability to strategize. This book takes both her character and her relationship to a new level. Kestrel and Arin's relationship has matured, and I am so grateful for it. We've moved on from the initial flirtations of book one, to a very tender and fragile relationship that is being rebuilt, which only adds to the powerful conclusion of this trilogy. 
 I found myself enjoying Arin a lot more here too, he was more vulnerable, but his clear dedication to Kestrel truly formed into something different here. I was super irritated with his character in the previous books, but something in this book changed my opinion. I also grew to enjoy Roshar's character in this book, and his relationship with both Arin and Kestrel. Rutkoski didn't shy away from building solid connections between secondary characters, which allowed for some powerful and insightful dialogue. 
 I did not expect to finish this book in a few hours, but I did. It was absolutely engrossing, unpredictable, fast-paced, and expertly written. I never skipped ahead out of boredom, which I tend to do with a lot of books. The world building here is incredible, and it wasn't until this book that I was truly able to appreciate it completely. I am definitely looking forward to more of Rutkoski's work in the future. 
 Overall rating is 5 stars. This book will have you captivated until the last page. READ THIS SERIES.