The character development in this sequel is often more of deterioration than growth. They're hurling themselves towards both greatness and doom. I am disappointed in them as characters rather than the book itself for the direction they are heading in and the atrocities they have already committed. I am anxious about how the series will conclude, especially with the base level of knowledge I have about the real history the story is based on.

I was especially interested in Radu's moral crisis, Lada overcoming some of her internalized mysogyny, and Stefan and Daciana's relationship.