*~SPOILERS BELOW~*

Really slow start, ends with a few plot twists. Almost DNF because it’s so slow in the beginning. Honestly, you could have this book be the same length as the first one and you’d have the same results. 

Violet and Xaden literally argue for what feels like over half the book before they resolve their issues. She’s upset he’s keeping secrets, then she’s keeping secrets from him. It’s all a mess. Xaden tells her to start asking questions but that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and Violet still refuses to ask questions to make herself feel better. There’s also a weird ex/jealousy plot point thrown in just to make this book even longer. Nothing pans out, Violet gets over herself but her and the ex barely interact after resolving their problems. Besides the ex, there’s a few other side characters that are hyped up but never used in the story. They just exist to fill out an already bloated cast. Rhiannon is the only side character that has any agency besides Violet and Xaden. 

Plot was ok, it’s the second book but it still feels like the author is setting up for end game. It felt like she was trying to set up some racism/discrimination plot against the rebel’s kids but it never panned out. Violet talks about how older riders are uncomfortable around the kids with relics but it was never expanded on. It’s like Rebecca gave up and decided she didn’t want her characters to hold prejudices. 
The twists were ok, when the general dies it feels really anticlimactic. There wasn’t much redemption or character growth for her to have an impact in my opinion. When Xaden goes venin it’s stupid, it just felt like something the author did to keep readers hooked instead of writing something actually satisfying. 

Writing wise, it’s sooooo dense. It felt like Rebecca decided to break the world record for f bombs in a novel because she does not use it sparingly. If she were a better writer, there would be more interesting ways to describe a moment besides “fuck.” A lot of the writing felt clunky and unedited. You can also tell a lot came from other books as well, sometimes it felt a little like ACOTAR or HP. 

I’m committed to the series at this point because it’s like a train wreck I can’t look away from, so hopefully there’s something good in the third installment.