I give this book 4.5 and it would be a 5... 
 if it wasn't for Chaol and his boring (boring as 'please kill me now') storyline. I despised him in Crown of Midnight (sorry for those people who love him, I wish I did) but here... that indifference came back. If they end up together I will flip the table and scream to my puppies (I will go a bit Manon-mode if it requires it). So yeah, Chaol, back off, go back to Anielle or do something useful (he's most of the time thrown into situations, rather than facing them.) 
 And though I was team Dorian... Well, guess I'm not any longer (still love him) because... Rowan is introduced in this book. I loved him, he grew on me as it did on Caeleana. He's y new bae... But anyway, I won't be any with Sarah J. Maas if she ends up with one of them. BUT NEVER CHAOL! NEVER! 
 Sorcha = Elide; that's what I am sure because all the clues are there. And I'm so bad, bad... I was glad she died, though I knew that she WAS going to die. I tried to like her (as Caleana was so mean to poor Dorian and I wanted him to have a friend -yes, you asshole Chaol you don't deserve being saved) 
 MANON! Oh my god, she is my new favorite. I had my doubts at the start but then when she mets Abraxos, she won my heart too. She is so heartless but not so heartless and I bet the King of Adalan will regret making them bond. I nearly cried when that happened with Petrah and Keelie... Oh Keelie... That was so sweet and it reminded me of my puppies. 
 Two little things that bother me (which are not so important): 
 - That Caeleana seems to be surrounded by possible mates. C'mon, girl, Dorian, Chaol and her cousin... and I'm not counting Rowan. 
 - That Caeleana and Dorian didn't play when they were little. I wanted more bonding! More back story to little Dorian. 
 To sum up, more impressed with this book than the second. Looking forward to the next. I will get into it right now. The shipping war is as fierce as the war we will see between the king and Caeleana.