When I started this book, I momentarily forgot what this series was like. After just finishing the Brutal Birthright, Kingmakers, and Underworld series, it was like a slap in the face to dive back into this depraved series.

And I enjoyed every second of it.

I did read the triggers before starting this book but only so I knew what I was getting into. I'm learning there are many triggers I will deal with to read a book. I'm honestly waiting to see what my limit will be.

Starting this series, I was sure what would be the main issue would be the night Violet doesn't remember. I was surprised. Though I wasn't surprised by Nate's personality when he reunites with Violet. I'm more surprised by Violet's lack of awareness, how she doesn't pick up on things. A couple weeks after being attacked, she doesn't connect the dots with a guy who seems to be feeling sore in the same place she had hit to defend herself. Granted, she thought her attacker was dead so I can't really completely fault her for that.

This book quickly tipped its toe into horror during the climax and I was kind of enjoying it, even if it broke my heart at what it led to. And what had happened during that moment. Honestly, the people in this universe are the worst. And the parents always suck. Very few parents are good in this series with some wanting to kill their own kid, defile their kid's loved one, flat out abandoning their child, and, to top it off, sexually abusing a minor to the point where the victim thought they were in the wrong. That one is still the worst for me, even with the reveals in this book. Granted, the parent in this book wasn't far off considering their own under-aged partners.

I'm still excited when I saw Kal. He's still my favorite guy out of the entire line-up and his relationship with Elena is still my favorite. It always surprises me when he shows emotion because I've got it in my head he's the stoic type like others portrayed like him. But he's not. He's such a family man and I love it.

When Grayson was introduced, I was kind of expecting just crazy paranoia. Instead, I got a man who deals with really bad anxiety. Every time he goes out in public, he's full of the desire to flee wherever he is, only getting better after he lets Violet in. He's still crazy but not as crazy as I was led to believe in the beginning. Everything is calculated. Even if doesn't always go the way he plans.

Finally being able to see inside Violet's head was good. It was interesting knowing why she turned Kal away and wouldn't welcome him into the family. Thinking about it, if she had followed her instincts and let him in, she would have saved him so much pain. So many of the bad things he went through wouldn't have happened. Or at least, there was a lower likelihood of them happening. He still likely would have ended up with that family and still suffered. Reading this book made me want to read it all again. And maybe I should have, before reading this, given myself a refresher. But I feel like everything hit harder by just reading this as is.

And with that book concluded, it's time to see where I'll head next. I still haven't decided what I'm reading next. So many possibilities.