*3 stars*

I’ve been following this series from the beginning, and while I’m still invested in Tess’s journey, this fourth book was a bit of a mixed bag. The plot really kicks up a notch and there’s a twist at the end that genuinely surprised me. I also liked seeing the romance finally progress in a more natural way.

Some of the representation also fell flat for me. Characters of color often leaned into stereotypes or served mainly to support Tess’s arc, and a few cultural references felt unintentionally insensitive. I also found some dialogue, especially during emotionally heavy scenes, didn’t quite reflect how teens actually speak or process trauma.

As an ARC, there were a few typos, but nothing major. Overall, this is a solid continuation for fans of the series, though I was left wishing for more depth and authenticity in both character and cultural portrayal. (Inshort I'm hooked.)

I’ll post this review to other platforms (e.g. Goodreads, Fable) once the book is available there.