The Heart of the Lost Star

DNF @ 44%

I can't believe it took me until book 3 to figure out that gender in this universe is completely independent of genitalia. I find it to be a really interesting concept of what life would be like in a world where everyone accepted it as completely normal to decide your own gender during childhood. Unfortunately, that was the only interesting thing about this book for me. The plot was otherwise quite dull and didn't hook me at all. The relationships in the first two books were much more fun because of the enemies to lovers aspect. Some conflict between the MCs would have spiced things up a bit.

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite in the series so far - and the biggest reason is Kamir. He is absolutely wonderful and brave and strong and just everything. Jader also isn't half bad, being unexpectedly sweet and kind. In this book, Kamir and Jader are split up, only communicating through letters, for I think about half the book and, while I normally wouldn't love that, it works beautifully here. That's partially because each of these men have a story of their own. Honestly, it's not often I say a romance novel could be a satisfying story without the romance, but this one could have. Because it's also about each of these men growing and overcoming in their own lives. (Of course, knowing that, at the end of it all, they'd have each other to lean on makes it even better.)

Also, I'm finally starting to understand gender in this world and, let me tell you, I'm loving it. Seriously. Everything I said about being confused in the first book? Yeah, ignore that. Sure, it was confusing, but the way this world handles gender is beautiful and lovely and there are simply not enough superlatives to use for how it made me feel.