I don't know what I was expecting when I read this book. Before I started it, I had already read the blurb for all three of the books. I normally do this so I know if I'm going to like a series or not. It has saved me from experiencing books with plots and tropes that I was not fond of.

In this case, it warned of a separation of the three central characters. And it happened. And I'm not even sure who deserves the blame: Laurent for his blind views and lack of trust in the two closest to him and not listening when Varick tries to warn him and not going to Given and asking for her advise on her brother, Rolund for being so desperate to get free of the vampires and the Deepnight that he would sell his sister to essentially be killed, the priests of the Sanctum for filling Laurent's head with the idea of throwing a child into the Rift, the Brotherhood for giving Rolund the idea to sell his sister in the first place, Given for not coming clean to Laurent and Varick when it became clear what she was being used for. So many to blame.

After reading this, Varick is the only one I can't hold any blame to. He knew where the danger lied and no one listened to him. He tried to warn Laurent about the Thicket but Laurent wouldn't hear it. He had his head so far up his own ass he couldn't see what Varick was saying, couldn't bring himself to believe his most trusted friend and lover above the priests of the Sanctum.

I grew increasingly frustrated with Laurent as I read this book. Given too. Laurent had a year to tell Varick what he was dealing with, so many nights they had spent together and he never said a word. And Given immediately hid what she had seen from Varick when he asked her about her power and she never told either of them about what she had been given. If she had and come right out and told them, she would not have been suspected as a spy and a traitor. Instead, she kept quiet and it came to light at the worst time in the worst way. To the point Laurent and Varick wouldn't listen to their own senses when she was telling them the truth.

By the end of this book, Varick became my favorite character. In the beginning, he didn't care for Given, or rather, he cared too much. He felt the pull to her but couldn't bring himself to follow through with it until Laurent literally put it in front of him. But Varick was rightfully worried about other things, such as what lurked in the Thicket. Laurent never believed him until he saw it with his own eyes. And had Varick snatched away from him. At this point, I'm holding out for Varick and Given. There are few characters I like in this book by the end [Varick, Jordan, Given] and Laurent used to be one of them. I liked his dynamic with Varick. Until I didn't. Varick was trying to help the male he loved but was instead pushed to the side in favor of a prophecy that required him to throw an innocent child into the Rift. And whose child that was supposed to be that really made my like for Laurent fall. Someone who could do that to anyone was not going to be getting positive points from me.

I know I'm supposed to like Laurent. I'm supposed to like all three of them since it's clear they are going to have their happily ever after by the end. But right now, I wouldn't care of Laurent didn't see that end. He had betrayed the male who loved him more than anything as well as his own wife, lying to them both without outright lying, instead giving half truths so lies wouldn't be easily picked out.

And now, because of Laurent not wanting to listen to those closest to him, they are separated. Varick a prisoner, Given taking refuge in a foreign land, and Laurent all alone because he couldn't see reason.

I got so frustrated I almost DNF-ed this series. But I'll see it through. Here's hoping Laurent will get back into my good graces.