This book would be better if Gal wasn't absolutely insufferable.

This book takes place from Gal's POV while he is a prisoner. He is struggling with his love for Ettian and his duty as heir to the throne. On the surface this seems like a really great set up but it just didn't get executed well. Gal's motivations and ethics are never really explored to the depth that it could have. It was sometimes so poorly done, I was straight up confused about what the hell Gal was doing. On top of all this, it was hard to really care about Gal's struggle because he is just so insufferable. I never felt a drop of sympathy for Gal. He really was just an arrogant whiny little teenage boy who just oozed "My blood makes me better than everyone around me" kind of attitude. Not sure what Ettian sees in this absolute prick. Now if the book was actually in Ettian or even Wen POV, I feel like it would have been better. Ettian and Wen's characters are just more sympathetic, likeable characters. Their struggles make sense and I want to cheer for them. And honestly, this was Wen's book at the end of the day. It really should have been her POV.

The plot doesn't pick up until about the 60% point. Like absolutely NOTHING was happening until this point and all I could think was "finally some good fucking soup." The character's don't start TALKING TO EACH OTHER until the 90% point. This books suffers from the big "everything would be fixed if they just talked to each other" trope, just like in the first book. Also the last 30 mins of the book has a wild left of field plot point that lets everything end in a cliff hanger with no answers. Felt like Skrutskie had to rely on a cheap plot twist instead of having the narrative stand on its own merits (you know like, a good plot or likable characters).

I'm sad that this isn't better. 2 stars because this isn't absolute trash and there is still a 3rd book that will hopefully save what's left of the scraps that was left behind.