Following the events of King’s Cage and Cal’s betrayal, Mare Barrow and the Scarlet Guard must find a way to destroy Maven’s kingdom once and for all. This must be done through alliances formed with the Republic of Montfort and Cal’s army. Everything the Scarlet Guard has fought for rests on the outcome of the coming war, and everyone involved wants the crown of Norta for themselves. 

The characters in this series are amazingly written. The multi perspective element of this book allows the reader to connect more with the characters, instead of only seeing them through Mare Barrow’s perspective. The majority of the book was slow, and I felt like the plot was not progressing very quickly. In contrast, the climax felt slightly rushed. Overall, it was a satisfying ending for the series. 

More fantasy royalty with powers books to read are Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen.