I read nearly every book by Jennifer Estep, but this didn´t quite live up to my expectations. Sure, the writing style itself was capturing as always and the description very realistic, but for my taste there where to many repetitions(f.e. about the Massacre) and a lack of proper worldbuilding, Just like in "kill the queen". It is supposed to be high fantasy, but we dont really know anything about the world, besides that there are those kingdoms and a bit about their culture. And since when Ryusama appeared? In the first three books it wasn´t even mentioned *once* but apparently it´s engaged with Andvari and quite relevant?!?! Like WTF, why? Anyways, it is quite easy to get into that kind of reading flow, mostly due to the vivid explanation, but also because of the quite intriguing plot. The story itself was well built up and I read through it in a few hours. Never the less, the characters were a sometimes a bit shallow and informations about them missleading. For example Gemmas actions didn´t really fit to her discription as a badass spy. She made way to many beginners mistakes to be a trained agend and at some points it was really frustrating. My highlight of the book was definitly Maeven, her motives and her general actions. I would love to find out more about her and firmly hope, that by miracle, Gemma doesn´t kill her. And if she gets killed, please don´t let it be as plain as Mabs.(She deseverd a way more spectaculare death, change my mind.) All in all I can recommend it, if you liked the previous books, but it can´t quite hold up to them.

I cringed so much at the writing style in this and the girl boss moments were so bloody cheesy, I really don't wanna pick up any other books by this author. The story was quite engaging at times and I appreciate the slow-burn romance and Leo was the most interesting character by far, along with his mother. If the book had been from his, or his sister's perspective, I probably would have loved it. Alas, here we are and I am cursed with a mediocre reading experience.