This reads to me like an early draft. There’s a good story in there somewhere, but it needs to be thought through more. Characters have personality changes with no explanation and the plot just meanders with no firm resolution.

The books get worse as they go on. The dialogue. The meaning is trampled and belittled and if enjoying loops of misery that are not beautiful or insightful this might be a book for you. I started for the power system and fantasy and was left with a very lame attempt at criticism of the real world.

If you’re looking at this and haven’t read the series just read book one. If you’ve read book two - kudos - just stop there.

You know that fulfilling and idyllic feeling you get when a trilogy ties up perfectly? The characters use their abilities and skills to come together in the end in the best way? The story twists and turns in ways that are unexpected and thrilling? When you’re not reading the book, your mind is still captured by it, intrigued by the thought of what could possibly come next? Yeah, this book is not it. I absolutely loved the first book in this trilogy, excited at the possibilities the author could take with these characters she created. They had such unique personalities and an intriguing set of magical skills grouped together. Unfortunately Olivie Blake dropped the ball of what could’ve been with these characters. It took me 3 months to chip away at this book, patiently awaiting for the plot twist that would capture my interest, but it never came. I never really understood the point of some of the characters’ journeys in this book, was often confused at what the heck was being described in the plot, and found all the philosophical thought processes to be dull. Not to mention a very “meh” ending to it all. Just overall very disappointed with the path this took when imagining what could’ve been.

Valiant attempt to get to the “good part” … but it never came.

700 pages where nothing happens except the relating (in nauseating and repetitive detail) of the introspection and narcissism of several young adults. The emotional self-flagellation and inability to act of the central characters is deeply tedious.

No idea what happened to the author but they completely lost the plot. First time I am not finishing the third book in a trilogy but, after 70 pages, I don’t want to waste anymore time.

Just why.