Ok. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't think it was a great book. I guess the easiest way to describe it is that it wasn't a good book but the plot was interesting enough and the writing tolerable enough that I finished it. It's an easy read, and for me a quick read.

The good? Not much, which is why it's a 2 star for me. Like it often happens for me, the plot was interesting but terribly executed. The interesting plot is why I enjoyed it while having to overlook a LOT in order to do so.

The writing isn't horrible, but the dialogue has much to be desired. What I struggled with most in this book is that the author is writing about things they obviously know nothing about which makes so much of this not even remotely believable. You make a town called "Shadow Grove" that has a "good" side and a "bad" side with a ton of gang activity. It just doesn't track for me. A town with gangs? A father who has as much control as he does? A mother's death that is just skipped right over like it's nothing? A father who can create a whole university in less than a year AND get enough students enrolled in it to be functioning? COME ON. And the names. Drusilla? eye roll

Also, it's hard to believe that MK was so secluded during the year since Riot Night. That she doesn't know what's going on. Did she not read the internet? Did no one mention anything to her? Did Shadow Grove not have a newspaper?

The other piece that can be annoying is the back and forth. The characters behavior and moods swing so quickly that it's just not believable. And these guys are so dangerous but it's hard to believe with what you see. And there's all this unspoken history that just gets hinted around the never explained. However, this is probably the key for me in keeping me going. James did a really good job of dangling the "there's more to the story" carrot that I willingly finished hoping for some resolution. That's also why I'll probably finish this series. I will not be fooling myself that this book (and likely series) or it's writing is actually good. But that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable.