This might be getting repetitive, but my Zodiac obsession is getting way out of control. In the last week or so, I have missed meals and sleep and given up on a social life entirely; when I do sleep, it’s thinking of these characters and wake up dreaming of them (I swear it happened this morning and it took me a while to figure out where I was). I had to physically tear myself away from the book last night so I could get a few hours of shuteye and even then it wouldn’t let me go. I’ve had obsessions before, but the this series has ensnared me so completely it’s disturbing in normal human terms. But the shadows own me now and apparently I enjoy that shit.

We often compare stories to roller coaster rides, but this book (which is like 3 books in one) was like getting on a roller coaster only to be zip lined on to a plane from which you were flung off into a sky dive that ends bungee jump, with no harness so you’d think you’d fall splat on the earth but you only end up falling in the squishy mud, getting up, dusting yourself off, and begging for more even as you’re vibrating with adrenaline and confused emotions ranging from joy to pain to thrill to devastation and everything in between.

Now expect some spoilers from this point on because what in holy volcanic eclipse of Solaria was that? This is my brain right now: 🤯🤯🤯😳😱😩😭🥺🥵😍😭🤯🤯🤯

We start with some necessary angst due to the last book’s climactic events, but then we get some warm fuzzies thanks to some adorable bonding and much needed romance. And then it’s all a cycle between Heir viciousness and Vega badassness and bromance and sisterhood and cute camaraderie and soft/steamy couple moments interspersed with an array of action and devastation I don’t even know how to explain. And through it all, it manages to maintain a joyful, if dark thread of humor. We get an unexpectedly hilarious pairing between a certain siren and Cerberus I didn’t know I needed and that restored my faith in the universe. A certain wolf continues to be a little B, the Bromance between dragon boy and grumpy vamp teacher is cute as shit. There were some moments that made me internally squeal in both pain and delight, like how?! The one thing I never wanted to happen to my favorite sisters happened but it’s fine it’s fine it’s going to be fine. Right?

I almost like Orion better in his psycho teacher mode because I’m weird that way, and no matter how he’s described, all I can think of is professor Damon Salvatore crossed with Alaric Salzman. Yum. He and Darcy fudging break my heart and heal it all at once but of course they can’t catch a break. Grumpy dragon Darius and Tory circling around each other is at once the most frustrating and rewarding interlude in an enemies to lovers/bully romance pairing I’ve ever read. Because as much as I need them to Fae up and be together already, this is exactly what a tormentor should have to go through before deserving the love of his tormentee. They never grovel enough if you ask me. Tory puts him through his paces and I won’t be blaming her for demanding some goddamn respect from her supposed soulmate. (She said as she was sobbing inside). The authors pulled a bold move with a trope I’ve always wanted to see in action and broke me in the process so that’s great I guess. I wanted to be mad at Tory, but at the end of the day, we know Darius was doing it for all the wrong reasons. Unghhh. The two of them are like pitting fire against fire, grumpy vs grumpy, no sunshine to be found, and when they collide? BOOM. Earth shattering fireworks. Their every interaction rips my soul apart. 

I knew the climax we were hurtling towards was bad news and we could see it coming realms away because of their shady AF plans, and then bam. It all went to the nine circles at the end, and it was like standing in the middle of an earthquake followed by an atomic explosion. Trauma. It’s all unraveling and I am not okay. I don’t even know how to rate this, I might go back and rearrange all my ratings for the series depending on how it all ends. Istg authors, y’all better give me HEAs for my girls or else 😭