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Sep 01, 2014forbesrachel rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Alina and Mal only wish for freedom. After a short respite we are plunged right back into the action, with them once again getting captured and escaping. Having discovered that Ravka is on the verge of collapse, both guilt and responsibility call Alina back to try and stop the Darkling. It is only with new powers and allies that she will have any chance of winning. As Alina changes, she struggles with thoughts of whether this is a good thing or not. Is she becoming a selfless saint, or descending into greedy darkness like the Darkling? She wants neither to happen, but she may have no choice. By gaining power, both in terms of command and through obtaining new amplifiers, she starts to feel isolated. Not even Mal's love for her can counteract this, and with Prince Nikolai there to complicate matters, a wedge forms between them. While there is not much else to the plot other than escaping and planning, the interactions between characters and Alina's internal struggles are more than enough to retain our interest. The author leaves us off at a tantalizing point, hoping that all this destruction will lead to rebirth.