Every book in this series gets better on multiple levels. Hawk continues to pull threads on the over-arching plot, making it more intriguing and convoluted without losing any of the believability of such events in the world he has created. In tandem, each romance both supports and is affected by the greater events.
I was prepared to dislike Nick as a protagonist based on what I knew of him from previous stories in this world. However, Hawk does an excellent job of delving into his motivations and backstory to create a truly three-dimensional character. I also thought I knew precisely what Jamie would be like from the back-cover blurb, as a veteran with amputation, and I was delighted to be proven wrong.
My favorite thing about this book was learning more about familiars themselves, especially how they’re not merely humans who can turn into animals. Hawk effortlessly expresses this through his characterization details of the familiar characters.
As usual, I look forward to reading the next book in this series, which is always the highest praise I can think to give.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.