I really like gentle fantasy like this. It’s high stakes, but doesn’t stress me out too much, and the romance is sweet. I had fun listening to this book! I really loved The Selection, and this did have a lot of similarities, but I kinda like that I can always count on Kiera Cass when I want something like this. I really liked Annika as a character. She was so kind and gentle and sweet, but also strong and brave and powerful. Her willingness to sacrifice everything for her country was lovely, and I’m really happy she didn’t have to. I also quite liked Lennox. I am so used to the dark and brooding MMC, and even though he was dark and brooding, he still seemed gentler and more inherently good than some others. I enjoyed watching him find himself with his friends, and I am so happy they were all able to be happy at the end. On a side note, I also loved Annika’s brother’s character, and his romance with her maid. (I listened to this, so I don’t know how to spell anyone’s names!) Overall, I liked it, and it was a nice, easy read!

V.E. Schwab’s books are always very interesting. I really liked the way the three stories intertwined, and each character was very interesting. Maria, even when she was not yet turned, was so strong and determined, and I really liked her, and how she never stopped fighting. Once she did turn, both into a vampire and into Sabine, I still quite liked her. She definitely had that darkness, and was far more independent and fleeting than others, but until Charlotte’s story, I didn’t actually expect the turn her story took. I found Alice interesting. Her reaction to becoming a vampire was actually highly relatable. I liked the way her anger became a weapon at the end, but I think that her past is sad. I also liked that she was just done with Sabine and Charlotte and their toxic relationship. As for Charlotte, I was really excited about her story, and hers was very different. She just wanted love, and well Sabine could give it to her, it was great. I liked that Charlotte was kinder and softer, and didn’t enjoy the brutality the way Sabine did. Of course, that whole relationship went very wrong, and Sabine lost more and more of herself. The idea of being stalked by your violent vampire ex it terrifying, but I do think Charlotte was a little naive and selfish when she kept putting other girls in so much danger. I think that Alice’s anger with her was also justified. I did think it was too easy to kill Sabine, but it was fine. It was a story of anger and freedom and love, and the power of individual women. Overall, I liked this! It was a much slower book than I was expecting, but it was good. And I love vampires