This installment had moments I genuinely enjoyed, particularly the combat and how the story wrapped up. The fights were engaging, and the ending felt satisfying enough that it reminded me why I liked the series in the first place.
That said, getting back into the story was harder than it needed to be. A brief recap at the beginning would have gone a long way toward re-orienting me, especially after time away from the previous book. I found myself spending too much mental energy trying to remember where everyone stood instead of settling back into the narrative.
The pacing was also an issue for me. Much of the book felt slow, and that sluggishness came through in the audio performance as well — at times the narration sounded almost disengaged, which made it harder to stay immersed. Combined with the very gradual character growth, it left me feeling like the story was moving forward, but only inch by inch.
I did enjoy this book overall, especially the action and the conclusion, but the slow progression makes it harder for me to feel excited about continuing the series right now. I’m not opposed to long arcs, but I want each book to feel like meaningful ground was gained — and here, that sense of growth felt muted.