4.5 stars! In my review for the first book in this series, The Sweetest Dark, I rambled on about how poetic the writing was and how I was drawn into this world by the soothing words and flowing prose. Guess what...it's no different here! Although this book provides more action than the first and a more detailed account of the war, the words are still beautiful and the writing style flawless! I'll be honest...I enjoyed this book more than the first. 
 Why was that? Well, I'm not exactly sure. Maybe it was the characters. After all, Lora has gotten stronger and tackles life with such grace and Armand is as charming, witty and swoonworthy as ever. But, maybe it was the adventure. The war rages on and our main characters get need deep into the danger and take us with them. Then again, maybe it was the romance. Lora and Armand's chemistry is obvious. They're comfortable with each other while, at the same time, insecure and unsure. Or...it could be the emotions. While Lora deals with the sadness that comes from Jessie being gone, Armand deals with the unbearable heartbreak of loving Lora and having to wait for those feelings to be reciprocated. Everything he does is for Lora and that's both beautiful and sad at the same time. It might just be the era it's set in...one that speaks of a simpler time. Or maybe it's the magic...dragons and flying and stars.... 
 Truly, I think it's all of those things in one beautiful package. This book had me laughing and misty-eyed...it had me sad and mad...it had me sighing...but most of all it had me from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down!