I have a special interest in books about marriage, and this falls squarely in the "quiet novel about domestic commitment" category. Not everyone's cup of tea but 100% is mine. This isn't quite a "marriage in crisis" story, despite the title. The affair in question is murky; arrangements and subtle confessions and blurred delineation between fantasy and reality make this more of a meditation on desire and emotional fidelity than a story of adultery. There are beautiful passages here that succinctly hit at the heart of what it means to stay committed and build a life in spite - in spite of boredom, complacency, familiarity, yearning. How do we reconcile the parts of ourselves that crave adventure and freedom with the parts that need stability and familial intimacy?

This is one of those literary fictions that, while beautifully crafted, is not overwritten or painful to digest. It's easy reading, while still grappling with complex subjects.

There is so much to love about this final installment in the trilogy - it yet again featured really nuanced and complex characters (protagonists and antagonists alike), naturally tied together different elements in a satisfying way and resolved a lot of my open questions even reaching as far back as the first book, further explored the really fascinating themes of orthodoxy and paganism, and even managed to further expand our cast of characters. There was again a lot of action in this book which isn't typically my cup of tea, but I loved that we finally got more of the magical element infused into the action which made it much more interesting to me compared to the sequel. That also allowed more of a departure from any sort of white knight plot crutch as we see Vasya become more of a powerhouse in her own right, and I really can't say enough good things about how this is NOT a love story and she herself is NOT flawless or beyond reproach. The qualities I really see shine in her are resilience and sympathy and radical self acceptance and an ability to challenge what she is told, and I'd love to see more of that in other books.

I do have two main bones to pick: first, the pacing was a little strange and didn't seem aligned to the progression of time in the story, and second (and more importantly), I feel a bit robbed of a properly satisfying ending. While the authors note does explain why the story ended where it did, I really really wish it went on. There was SO much more hinted at for the future that I was desperate to see; I usually roll my eyes a little at a 5-years-later type epilogue but I really feel that is suitable here, or honestly even a slice of life short story separate from the trilogy I'd absolutely eat up. As is, the story ended abruptly enough that I actually had to google if there's was an additional ending floating around somewhere or spinoff series following Marya that would see a return of some of the characters.

Phew this was a whirlwind. Gagne's memoir dives into her struggles as a sociopath trying to lead a non-violent life and is ultimately a plea for empathy towards sociopaths, challenging the stereotype that they’re inherently dangerous.

But, there are issues. Gagne admits to altering names, timelines, and dialogue, which can sometimes make scenes feel more scripted than genuine, like she’s retroactively applying adult wisdom to her past. Some episodes feel overly dramatic, like a movie finale setup - but I do appreciate how entertaining this was despite the subject matter.

That being said, I wonder if my skepticism is influenced by her being a sociopath? Especially listening to the audiobook, there were places where her laugh and tone came off as "sociopath attempting charm" - but I immediately questioned myself. Am I thinking that because I know she's a sociopath?

In the end, the book's flaws are overshadowed by its impact. It got me questioning my own biases and considering the perspective of a sociopath, which is no small feat.