First I want to address the POVs issue. While it was refreshing to see another POV in the book , I think the authors spread themselves a little too thin with it. I didn't need to read the angsty drama of the boys' perspectives, you already get enough of that from Zoey. I did, however, think that Stevie Ray's POV was essential to the plot as there was so much going on with her that only leaving the book to Zoey would have completely lost the plot of the *other* red fledglings and Rephaim. I don't think we needed to see Rephaim's view either since we were already getting it from Stevie Ray. There was just too much time spent on rehashing things from different POVs and it made the book seem sluggish. Seeing the drama at the end with Stevie Ray from 3 different people was just unnecessary, I'm almost shocked they didn't throw in Aphrodite's perspective on that too. The Casts should have just left the telling of the story to the two new High Priestesses and let us have a little bit more plot.

The plot was another issue with me. Really, not a lot happened in the book. And the few major things that did happen were kind of tossed to the side while everyone dealt with their relationship drama. I would have much rather had two very romantic scenes with Stark and Heath and get on with it then have to read 15 little pointless ones where nothing happened. The stuff that happened with the council, Neferet and Kalona at the end was totally brushed off so Zoey could go deal with her emotional issues. The councils mindset in response to the two of them should have been a really big deal and should have been addressed but instead it was "Boo hoo, Zoey hurt Stark's feelings. What's she going to do?" I guess what I'm trying to say is that the Casts are developing this amazing plot but they are dealing with it the wrong way.

I didn't like the characters as much in this book either. Maybe it's because I feel like since this is Book 6 that Zoey should start showing a little more maturity. If I have to read the words 'bullpoopie' or 'raging case of diarrhea' from her mind one more time, I swear I'm giving up on the series. The bond of the nerd herd wasn't so apparent. I missed the comic relief of the twins and their teasing of Damien and Aphrodite. All their scenes together were just a whole bunch of nothing but filler.

I thought the death was actually one of the book's more redeeming qualities for me. I thought it was well-placed and necessary for Zoey to develop as a character and as a hero. I'm surprised by who Zoey is left with as a romantic interest since he wasn't even in the first books but after reading his character in Tempted, I think it was the right choice. Of course, who's ever really dead in these books?

I gave this book three stars because I *wanted* to like it so badly but I just didn't. I think the storyline is amazing but the whole time I was reading it, I was just annoyed. Annoyed with the pace, annoyed with the characters and to be honest, annoyed with the immaturity of the writing which never bothered me before this book. It may sound kind of weird but it's like I want to know what happens, I just don't want to have to read about it anymore.