I tend to give books that are what I wanted/expected 4-stars, particularly in series that I really enjoy and/or by authors that I really enjoy. With that in mind, this is a series that I really enjoy, and an author that I literally own all the writings of (except for maybe some short stories that I didn't get anthologies for), and I give this a three. That won't seem significant to someone who is unfamiliar with my system, but it is. This was one of the less effective books I have read by this author (and I think she was going through the death of her husband during this, so I will forgive her for it), but the really frustrating thing about this book was that the author was trying to ret-con established personalities and relationships in this book... like we didn't read the other 14 in this world (2 series, 1 world) or anything. Super frustrating. I think it was supposed to edge this book into more of a suspense/thriller direction where you are supposed to be kept guessing... but it just came off as things happening because the author said so, and not that there were realistic factors at play. It just veered way off-course, out of nowhere. Literally multiple major characters in this world AND multiple relationships were just suddenly and fundamentally different, to increase either drama or suspense, but it didn't make sense and it didn't work.

All that said, the other things about the book were pretty much the level of quality I would expect, so I have decided that it wasn't bad enough that I can't give the author the benefit of the doubt moving forward. Also, I am sorry for her loss. I hope that she is able to take the time she needs to mourn him properly, and after that, if she chooses to continue writing, I hope for a return to her earlier form.