pros: world building is great. the plot has so much potential (exploring the veskans and faroans, more lore to why the doors were sealed, etc). author is good at writing the main characters (kell, lila, holland, rhy, and alucard) but not so much for others (see cons section).  Finally, the best thing about this whole series is the romance between Lila and Kell. That was chef's kiss. The build-up? The longing before they actually got together? Perfection. I feel like I am in the minority for liking their chemistry. Rhy and Alucard could've been great too, but I feel that they lack connection.

They kept referencing that one intimate moment in the past but didn't explore why they met or why they liked each other. Their romance was always reduced to just their physical intimacy rather than emotional connection. I personally would love it if the ending ended in a wholesome manner like him confessing his love and everyone just accepting their relationship as it is instead of Alucard just being his what was it again? His bodyguard? companion? friend?

cons: slow paced.  so many side characters that can be utilized better. author writes a side character and forces you to care for them then fail (or if I actually start caring and seeing their importance to the plot, they get killed off).  some parts can be omitted, and it won't affect the plot at all. i feel like this book and the 2nd book should just be combined into one book (delete the dragging parts). So many, and I mean MANY flashbacks that was so boring. I know it's an attempt to flesh out the other characters (which should've been done in book two, hell that book was so pointless) but it failed.

I don't like that I never got the answer about Lila's past. Like, we just all accepted that she's an Antari? Personally, Lila is such an interesting character with flaws (gurl has abandonment issues and stuff) that could've been explored more. Moreover, Lila is the ONLY female character that has actual real character, albeit trope-ish (the typical "not-like-other-girls" female lead ). Other females are either "strong" but gets killed (Kisimyr), written as annoying, flirty for no reason, viewed as weak (submissive), someone's puppet, etc. I don't know if it can be called internalized misogyny on the author's part but the difference between the male and female's writing is so evident. 
The chapters set in grey london is just so dragging and so unnecessary. What was the point of that chapter with the king? Nothing. What about Ned? He's literally just there for I don't know what reason and then suddenly Kell gives him the most dangerous thing in all londons without better explanation except that Kell believes in humanity. *confused noises* Cora, the veskan princess. I really don't get her character at all. I thought the author's trying to give her character (other than being flirty and a minor at that) when she had a chapter with Rhy but then suddenly she goes completely lunatic, again, for no apparent reason. I didn't really care about the Royal Parents's death because they did not have a lot of character prior to this. The author tried to force me into caring for them but failed. Both their deaths are dumb. Also, Holland deserves so much better. The author just loves making him miserable every damn time. Osaron is a meh villain.

Honestly, I feel like I have more to say but that was long already lol. Even though I didn't like this book as much as I want to, I finished it because I grew to like the world and the main characters and I'm honestly just curious overall if it would get better.