Kristen Britain can not decide whether they would rather be Stephanie Meyer or George RR Martin ...

SPOILER WARNING !!!! !!!!!
What feeling you had as her first books you read? For me it was great high fantasy.
What it has become in the last two books? Dilettante "Dark" Fantasy with a heroine who is mutated in this book to Bella Swan.
Do not get me wrong I love fabric ala George Martin (long line, many actions, somewhere a master plan). But the man understands his craft.
Kristen Britain does not appear.
She seems completely overwhelmed with the development of its history. In Blackveil there were many different perspectives and sometimes you had the feeling she exaggerates a bit. But you knew the characters.
In this book, the plot is limited again more on Karigan what is nice. But you can not start eight different storylines and a single carry on in the next book in the last book.
Whoever believes here to learn what is happening in Sacordia after the events of Blackveil, is bitterly disappointed.
Instead, play 700+ pages in a STEAMPUNK world in the future. (If I want Steampunk, then I read Steampunk, but share a medieval world suddenly in the middle of a series by a Steampunk world, is simply too much for me!)
With an entirely new set of characters, but in the next few books at all can not play a role, because they remain as I said in the future.
Imagine you see about 4 seasons of a series, always with the same characters, and in the 5th seasons they have any old actor kicked up on the main character.

Karigan was previously a strong, independent woman. In this book she degenerates into a pathetic imitation of Bella Swan. It is no longer the driving force behind the story. It is a horrible whiner who remains entirely passive throughout most of the book.

One can completely save this book, it does not contribute to the progress of history. Nothing at all.
Read the last 30 pages in a bookstore, playing again in Sacordia, the rest is virtually meaningless.

So what did Kristen Britain with this book intended? I can only discover a meaning in it, and indeed to draw a line under the hated her Karigan / Zachary plot. (Fans, this plot will be bitterly disappointed)
The only positive thing about the book is the Karigan for a short time is happy with a man in the future. I indulged in it her heart, after all these torments. But of course they can not take in the past him, so that everything gets a very sad note at the end (including an unsuccessful pregnancy for Karigan). Due to this new man I thought that Kristen wants to show the Karigan about Zachary's gotten. And up on the last few pages you also have this impression.
But I think then you become aware that probably 80% of its readership are fans of Zachary & Karigan, so she has to draw a line not pulled through to the end, but again everything is left open.
Heaven there must be since Volume 2 possible that Karigan and Zachary times 4 have an open and honest conversation to 5 pages. But it's Captain Mapstone there to prevent that.

Quite honestly, there would have been a wonderful opportunity: Fastion lives in the future, he is cursed quasi to "eternal life". Here was potential. Why not make him a lover of Karigan? Between the two was always a certain affection. And if Karigan returns in the past, they could have tried to take the relationship again. It would have given hope. You could move away successfully from Zachary, without the readers happen sold for stupid. But since the George RR Martin Ader comes through from Britain, never let the main characters their luck.
Why me comes this incident and do not you? Because I believe that Britain ever has no idea in which direction they want to move the story. She has no master plan. No end in mind.

Do we learn how Lyx arrives at the castle? NO is not mentioned
Do we learn how Karigan Friends & Family through her react "suspected" death? NO
Do we, like Zachary responded to their "death"? NO
Do we learn if ever comes out that Estora has sent an assassin behind Karigan? NO
Do we learn what's voice with Estrals? NO
Do we, in fact anything is what is important? Yes, the Amber Hill is a hazard. (Can be a fact that would have deal with a chapter Long excursion in the future)

I am deeply disappointed. This series has been running for 16 years. In these 16 years, we have get 5 books, although the first two books were originally designed for a trilogy. Volume 4 & 5 are pulled with all his might in the length, half the pages would have been enough in band 4. A quarter of the sites for band. 5
Britains write speed is that of George RR Martin, but the quality is sooo far apart.
I can not completely ignore leave four years with a huge cliffhanger and then all been there before my readership.

Still despicable I find the fact that the American Amazon rows 5 star reviews were awarded, consisting of just one or two sentences and it just so many 1-3 star reviews, justify the very long their displeasure. As a very unsightly theory urges.

For me this series is now completed. I throw this woman and this publishing house out of money to and do not waste another year more with how all this will end someday logical.