Most of Ava's books start and end with a positive feeling, at the least, a sense of hope which is one of the reasons I so enjoy her books. They're almost like the perfect sandwich, 2 tasty slices of bread with a filling to tease your tastebuds! As it is in book 4 of this series. Cora is happy, her dad is healthy again, ready to remarry, she and Alaric have completely embraced one another, the Dragons and humans are coming out of the stupor enforced on them and they've won a major battle. So all good, right? Welllll....
Both Cora and Octavia are being undermined by the vile Northwood and his lackey Emmett, who are doing everything possible to get the council to their way of thinking, which is to grasp power away from the ladies. Of course there's gotta be a greedy so and so wanting control, sowing suspicion and discord but to what end? When a strange illness descends on the school, affecting both riders and dragons, Cora and Octavia rack their brains coming up with a cure, which is a heck of a problem when they don't know what is causing it nor why.
Once again we're plunged into uncertainty, into betrayal of the worst kind and a sense of urgent despair. It takes Cora a while to figure it out, but when she does, I was as astonished as she was! Geez, just goes to show, DON'T take anything at face value! She's battling her uncertainty, she's battling the meddling Emmett, at the same time as her tether and bond to Alaric is stretched alarmingly. Leaving her confused, not knowing who she can trust. My word did I and Cora do an about turn! Yeah, that little titbit sure messed with my head! The who to trust that is... wasn't who I expected. I love how she expores every single avenue, even the depth of her magic to get to the truth. Her growth is awesome, her magic is awesome. I love how strong Octavia is, ok, so she does flounder a bit but she takes the bull by the horns and faces it head in. Her relationship with Strida is put to the test and I felt her anguish but personal joy and happiness is put aside to solve this mystery and also to try sway the council. I love her analytical mind, her drive, and her amazing bond with Raksha.
Yes things look bleak, yes there are challenges but there's also hope and a certainty that Cora will find a cure, that she will follow every path available to her, that she will delve into the unknown to get answers. A great paced book with a great convoluted plot to keep me guessing and a great continuation of this great series.