I am so disappointed, I didn't have the experience I expected after reading the previous books. I rushed through them to get to this one. I struggled to stay involved in the stories from the beginning. I read it during the world wide lock down from the Coronavirus, so I had plenty of time. I admit to being stressed who isn't ? But I've read other books and not felt so disconnected. There were too many POV's going on that didn't connect. it was crazy frustraiting for me. I couldn't get into one storyline before it switched to another. The worst for me was that each storyline was so different, I was thrown out into a new world at each change. I loved Nicolai, in the past books but here he felt like a shadow.
Romance ? There were hints at a romance brewing, but I never felt it, or hoped for them. I didn't get the wanting, can't even see them together.
Okay I will stop whining. bottom line, it didn't work for me.

On my second go with this book. I've struggled, it seems so slow compared to her other books. There has been a lot of thinking, chaining, and talking about the what the if's but no real action, yet. I think I'm finally at the point where everything will happen. I'm struggling with concentration during these quarantine times on all things.

I got to 20% and just not feeling it. I'm so distracted, I can't remember much of the first pages. I'm taking a break from this to read during less stressful times. I need something light and funny

I have read this first 5% three times and still can't remember most of it. I'm just too distracted/stressed/isolated. LOL I think I'll try another form of escape for a bit and see if i can get back to this. There are so many visual tours online of museums I think I'll go in a staycation. 

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army. Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

It has been almost a week since I finished this book and I’m still not over it. I loved this book, and everything about it. Once think I should say is that you should most definitely read at least The Bone and Shadow trilogy first, as well as the Six of Crows Books. Six of crows is maybe not necessary but will most definitely help to understand and know the characters. This books starts off a few months after the event in the last Bone and Shadow book, and a lot has happened since then. We see a mix of characters from Bone and Shadow as well Six of Crows. I thought it was a great blend of characters and they worked well together. The group is split into basically three mini groups and all work on different missions but the same goal, we again get multiple POVs which makes it so much more fun to read and follow our friends. The friendship and characters were always one of my favorite parts of the grisha-verse and that is not any different here. It is fast paced and we never get a minute if rest. The book is also chockfull of twist and turns. Overall, I think this book was my favorite book in the grisha-verse yet, even with that horrible, horrible cliffhanger. I rate it full 5★ and can’t wait for the next book to be released.

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