"<i>.. absolutely preparing myself to be destroyed and devastated all over again</i>," was how I wrapped my review of book one. Because I remembered the vibe of this story more than the events themselves. Infact, only a few scenes stood out to me, so it was almost like reading this for the first time. I think maybe I had forgotten most of what happened in this series outside of book one and a few broadstrokes. I have a feeling book three will be the one I recall the least.

<i>What can a soldier do when mercy is treason, and he is alone in it?</i>

I actually don't think this book was quite the devastation or destruction I remembered it to be, vibe or no. But it's definitely relentless. Hit after hit is taken, not all of them all-encompassing, but enough that it wears you down. Just like Karou is worn down, worn thin, believing she has no path but the one she's on. And I think it was that atmosphere that allowed for those few (very few) moments of sweetness, of levity, to feel both out of place but impossible not to cling to. Like the image of Zuzana and Mik, fragile humans, playing amongst creatures of nightmare and imagination and death. Your brain questions it but you can't look away.

<i>Mercy, she had discovered, made mad alchemy; a drop of it could dilute a lake of hate.</i>

There was a lot of hurt in this book; in the sense of loss, of betrayal, of grief, of a dream that will never be realized, of hope. Because hope, too, hurts.

As always, Taylor's writing was impeccable, the way she toyed with us every time, making us believe one thing, only to reveal the opposite, was both breathtaking and left the heart pounding and also something of a trap. Because just when you come to rely on that, to expect it to happen each time, it won't. Sometimes the bad, the sad, is the reality and there's no surprise waiting to tell you otherwise. But it's a compelling way to force one's readers to devour page after page, chapter after chapter. Which is what I did. Not just out of hope but also because I just could not tear myself away.

For all that this was grim, and at times hopeless, I think it's probably my favourite of the two. The questions posed, the wrong for the right reasons, the push for vengeance which only propels more violence to answer the call, the conflict our characters felt, made <b>me</b> feel so much.

I also feel helpless to do anything other than book up book three.. right.. now.

4.5 stars