Sanctuary with Kings

the first two books of the series had a good balance of plot and smut that it felt like the story was moving along well. they were interesting with a bit of mystery and intrigue; they moved quickly while still giving enough detail to build a story. this one did not feel like that. i stopped in chapter 29, and it didn't feel like anything had happened other than the main character being sexed up, which i can appreciate, but this storyline is interesting and i wanted more.

THE BIRSHA ARC IS DONE! And what a way to end it! 
I think I liked this a lot better than the first two books to be honest. Evanthia???s story is definitely heavier than Esther???s or Hazel???s, but I very much enjoyed the weightier themes this go-round. I liked how it focused on healing from trauma - there???s a scene in this book with Laszlo that I REALLY liked, and which I think contributes to why he is basically one of my top two favorite males in this book. Reading her character development across the span of the novel was a thoroughly enjoyable and heartening journey, and I???m glad the author managed to characterize her in a way that made her a delight to read about and ensured that her story didn???t ring any false or sour notes. 
I also liked the monster selection more this go-round too. Asterion, for instance, has been a presence in the last two books, but this time he gets his flowers (so to speak), and BOY DOES HE DESERVE THEM. I also adored Conall, but I???m REALLY fond of Laszlo and Hywel. While I do think Auguste from the first book is a sweetheart, and I adore Jude from the second, this is really the first time in this series that I???ve liked ALL the men. I attribute this to their characterization (the author seems to have gotten much better at it in the space between the second book and this one), and how they fit in with Evanthia and her journey towards healing from her deeply traumatic past. 
And speaking of the Company, it was really nice seeing Esther and Hazel have a presence in this book! I know Esther made a cameo in the second book, but I liked how she and Hazel had a much larger role to play in this book. 
Overall this is a great conclusion to the series, and personally one I think is superior to the two books that came before it (and those were pretty damn good reads in their own right). Really enjoyed Evanthia???s growth and development as a character, as well as the way her men helped her get there, each in their own way.