Now closer to my age, Elena and Lila have almost drifted apart, and this story centers on Elena's new life as a homemaker and mother. Raising two children, she agonises over the scholarly life that she's lost, and seeks comfort in others that she no longer finds in her husband. This is likely the most relatable novel in the series for many, but for me, I found it the weakest so far.

Lila takes a back seat in this story, while the rift started in the last book, she was still very present for many scenes and we were told of her years working in a poor district and the abuse she went through. But in this story, her shining personality is limited to short phone calls, and this hampered my enjoyment of the book. Lila is an incredible force, and one this story needs.

The political and class divide is even more present here, as beloved characters from previous books find themselves in the center of the violence. But Elena, who moved away and married rich, seems detatched from a lot of these events, hearing accounts second hand. I would like to see her immerse herself a little more and reconnect with her neighbourhood in the final book.