YASSSSS! THIS WAS SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE FIRST BOOK. I didn't have the highest hopes for this book, but still gave it a chance because Maas is an absolutely divine writer. It was also marketed as a Hades and Persephone retelling so obviously I was on board. The ending was absolutely cruel, and makes waiting for the final installment beyond excruciating. 
 Alright. So I'm just going to clear the air here. I definitely thought Maas was setting us up for a love triangle in this book. I should probably just stop making assumptions because I'm wrong 99.9% of the time. There are so many things in this book that make it so much better than ACOTAR, but I'm only going to touch on the biggest thing that stood out to me - the characters. 
 "It belonged to me - as I belonged only to me, as my future was mine to decide, to forge." 
 Feyre's development was everything I could have asked for and more. She's changed completely from ACOTAR, her time under the Mountain has left her struggling, broken, and in need of someone that is going to see her as an equal and treat her as such. Tamlin doesn't give her this. His 'love' for her results in him becoming overly controlling and I was super thrilled that he wasn't present for a majority of the book. Feyre grows, realizing that while Tamlin was what she needed when she was human, she isn't the same person anymore, and cannot love someone who won't change with her. She learns to accept her pain, to grow with it, and to stop letting it bury her alive. 
 Rhysand - Where do I start? I jumped on that ship as soon as he appeared in ACOTAR. The banter and tension between both him and Feyre was perfect and well thought out. We see Rhys' vulnerabilities, which I was so grateful for. He was painted in such a different and almost simplistic light in ACOTAR, and here we see all of the dimensions of Rhys. The most striking part about his relationship to Feyre is his clear admiration of her strength and how he truly views her as his equal. I can't say enough about the relationship that is slowly built over the length of this book, it's just so effortless. 
 Also, the #Squad. Maas doesn't shy away from her secondary characters, and I think that's one of the major reasons why I come back to her books again and again. These supporting roles are fleshed out, and the four additional members of Rhys' inner circle were memorable and likable. I loved getting another look at Feyre's sisters and the complex dynamic between them. 
 I finished this book in a few days, only because I forced myself to draw it out because it was that good. I actually screamed at the end. (view spoiler)[ HOLY CRAP THO - HIGH LADY OF THE NIGHT COURT?!?!?!!!!!!! GET IT GIRL. I SCREAM EVERY TIME I READ THAT LINE. (hide spoiler)] 
 I would recommend this book a hundred times over, and am pretty happy that I gave this series the benefit of the doubt and continued on with it. The world building is supreme, the relationships are beautifully crafted, and the plot is ON POINT.