I really enjoyed this book, because the reader is finally able to experience Ronan's perspective. While it is dark, as expected, there are moments where the younger, more innocent and happy Ronan shines through. Introduced to the Barns, his home that he was banished from, the reader can see there is a simplicity to him before his father died; where now there is this hard edged, young man, who lives in fear of himself, who he is and what he is capable of doing and/or becoming. Ronan has quickly become my favourite character; loyal, truthful, guarded, does not mince words, and is not afraid to say or do awful things, even if those words or actions cut and damage. We also learn more of his history, interesting and fantastical. An idyllic home, a sleeping mother, his story is a fairytale come to life; where Ronan is seen as both the hero and the villain. All my favourite psychics are also back, and have begun to play a larger role in the goings on of this group of teenagers. Sometimes involved, sometimes on the fringe, sometimes keeping secrets. I love these three women (Maura, Calla and Persephone), who can be ruthless, kind, benevolent, impulsive, and stable. They are contradictory beings, living in a loop of time, feeding off the power of Cabeswater and Blue. My favourite moment in the book, a moment that made me cry, was between Blue and Noah. Noah is a character that is used more as a catalyst for other character's development as opposed to his own person. (Spoilers) Being dead, Noah has nowhere to go. He will always be this way, always be a teenage boy; sometimes experiencing his horrific death, sometimes losing himself when Cabeswater's power is drained, sometimes becoming something dark. It is hard to know him. So, this moment between him and Blue really moved me. We finally experienced Noah, as he would have been, before all this awfulness. And Blue, so caring, but cursed with knowing her kiss will kill her true love. Two very broken characters finding this bit of comfort in each other, but knowing that is all it is, was so beautifully written. So poignant and sad, crushing but necessary. Even if it seemed like a throwaway scene, it felt like so much more, a moment to love these two lost souls. I had only two issues with this novel, hence the 4.5 rating; which were, the abrupt ending and the repetition of the line "it was never going to be you and me." Stiefvater seems to pick a quote that is memorable and then overuses it. Sure, there were parallels between a few plot lines, but having exact similar speeches in intense moments pulled me out of the novel, instead of connecting me between these theatrical moments. Now, to the ending and why it bothered me. The relationship between Ronan and Kavinsky is a slow burn; so, when the ending came, I felt it did not do their weird power dynamic justice (so abrupt with so much build up). Kavinsky was a scary devil, a darker side of Ronan, with no care for living, unless it was with someone like him. Sure, his character revealed the utter loneliness of a being like Ronan (Greywaren), but I wanted more out of his final scene. With only those two issues, I truly love this novel, I love having Ronan's added perspective, I love where this series is headed. I am already on to Blue Lily, Lily Blue. I am careening my way through these books.
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