This is my 12th book I have read in this series, but only the 4th time I have read the physical book instead of listened to the audiobook. At least twice the editor missed an incorrect use of "it's," so now I wonder if there have been lots of other typos I was unaware of. There was also a missing "d" at one point.
This book actually didn't go the way I expected it to. The series ostensibly ended last book, and I figured that this would be a fluffy epilogue capturing the happy occasion of Amber's wedding. I thought we would check in with each of the side characters and hear that they are all sappy, making babies, living happily ever after.
Instead, Amber had a grand total of about 3 lines in this book. Her fiance Irix had none at all. And other than Wyatt making a surprise re-appearance, I can't say that we seriously checked in with every side character.
This was actually a typical Imp book, focusing on Sam and her antics. There were Ruling Council meetings. There was a moral decision to make, and Sam the ex-demon wanted to take the easy way out, but didn't. She was way too casual about meeting with the president (heavily implied to be Trump). She made massive international deals off the cuff, with no thoughts to the repercussions. She spent the majority of the novel carving her way through zombies, but she prioritized family time with her angel mate Gregory and their angel kid.
There was drama and some suspense. There may have been attempts at humor, but those usually rub me the wrong way. Although, even I smile at the thought of the Lows putting together a synchronized dance routine.
There will be a sequel in 2021, so I guess the conclusion in book 10 was a fake out?
To this day I still don't understand what exactly an Imp is in this universe. Originally, Sam admits she is just a step above a Low. Imp behavior is referenced often, and it always seems to be short for "impulsive." But characters act like they can tell Sam is an imp just by looking at her, even though she never describes any physical features that are specific to imps. Weirdly, characters look at her and say, "You're an imp!" even after she has developed angel wings. These should clearly mark her as an angel, but for some reason ancient demons think of her as a winged imp. Which doesn't even exist in this world.
There are greed demons and war-maker demons. Succubi who specialize in lust. Lows who are little more than animals. But there is never an explanation for what it actually means to be an imp.
Speaking of world building, I was pleased to learn some more about dwarves in this book. Dunbar has been light on detail about species other than angels or demons. I am still curious about why Sam was so excited 6 books back to hear about a demon-goblin hybrid. There has been no goblin character since that oblique reference.
However, there is a stereotypical "hag" of a witch in this book, and no explanation is ever given for who the Hell she is, where she lives, what her species is, how she has magic, or how common hags are. We have encountered young Wiccans before, and elf-trained sorcerers, but never a hag like this. Her power seemed way stronger than that from any witch Amber encountered in New Orleans, but no explanation is given as to why.