Ugh, ugh and triple ugh. Eugenie has to be the most selfish, self-centered protagonist that I've ever come across. The book was rolling along at a decent 2.5 stars until the end with the choices that were made.

For elaboration on all comments, see my review of the previous book in the series. I will NOT be moving on if this series continues. ( )

I've been reading Richelle Mead's books for a while now and usually leave with the desire to read the next one as soon as possible. In this installment there is something about the decisions Eugenie makes that leaves the reader unhappy. There is also something about Eugenie that is bothersome. I suppose this started in the third book, in fact I knew Eugenie would be highly irritating in this one I just didn't think I'd leave feeling such an extreme dislike for her. I understand the need to have a flawed main character, but Eugenie's flaws not only push away the other characters in the book but, frankly, they are pushing me away as a reader.

I don't think I'd even say she is the typical flawed female protagonist in an urban fantasy novel. Typically the female protagonist is either someone the reader can relate to or someone the reader wants to be. We might not think this on a conscious level but it is still there. Why would we read books if we cannot relate to the characters at some level.

Why, indeed? This installment proved that Eugenie is becoming harder for the reader to relate to. She is becoming unlikable. In this book, Eugenie is pregnant with twins and is being hunted by the baby's father Kiyo. He and his liege lord want to kill the unborn children to prevent a prophecy from coming true. Eugenie hides in the southern United States until her kids are born. After playing at motherhood for about a month, Eugenie is informed that her other sham job, that of Queen of Rowan and Thorn Lands is under threat because of a winter blight. Eugenie goes to the Otherworld, adventures with Dorian and company, and saves her land. At the end of the book, we discover that Eugenie's friend Pagiel is actually her nephew and grandson of her father. That makes him the evil that Kiyo's prophecy speaks about. In a hamhanded attempt to save Pagiel from himself Eugenie inadvertantly leads the boy to his death at the hands of Kiyo. Directly after we discover that Kiyo is NOT the father of Eugenie's children. THe father is actually Dorian. The man who sheltered and cared for Eugenie throughout the entire book series.

What does Eugenie do with this information, which by the way should have been introduced way earlier? Nothing. Eugenie makes another terrible decision and chooses to keep the true parentage of her children to herself. She says that Dorian can see the kids when they are teenagers.

For all that Mead tries to make us think Eugenie cares about Gentry, Humans and her children, the truth is that Eugenie only cares about herself. Eugenie's selfishness seems to be boundless. She attempts to be a queen to her people only when it satisfies her. Eugenie leaves her land for long periods of time thus weakening the magical and necessary connection between the land and the sovereign. Why not just give up the land to her sister Jasmine, a girl most willing to be queen. She left Dorian in the third book, runs off with Kiyo who betrays her. In this books Eugenie begins to trust Dorian for herself. Through her actions she constantly demands that Dorian prove himself worthy of Eugenie. The problem is that it is clear to the reader that Eugenie doesn't deserve Dorian. She doesn't seem to realize that Dorian might actually have feelings. Dorian protected her throughout her pregnancy, both at a personal level and at a political level. Dorian wanted to adopt the children to give them a father since obviously Kiyo would not be a good father at all. Dorian's greatest desire is to have children. Nonetheless, we spend an entire book reading Eugenie's justification for mistrust then ultimate betrayal of Dorian. Eugenie maintains the mistrust of Dorian and never really reconciles her feelings for him other than the "great sex". She is, of course, happy that Dorian chooses to love her. She is more concerned with protecting her own self. This is Eugenie's pattern and why she isn't close to anyone, Gentry or Human. Perhaps one could argue that Eugenie is too scared to fully love anyone so she keeps everyone, including those she professes to love, at a distance. Therefore she comes across as selfish. This rampant selfishness is unappealing. Eventually she is going to lose everyone and everything that matters to her, particularly in light of this Not Going To Tell Dorian About the Babies decision. I'm not sure I want to stick around and watch. I'm uninterested in Eugenie and her feelings (she can DIAF) but I don't really want to watch Dorian suffer.

All in all, I gave this book three stars because it is a C /B- book. It isn't good and it isn't bad.

Edit: I had to decrease down to two stars. Upon reflection I feel the book is actually a C-/D grade. ( )

I dont know why I go on reading these books.

Kiyo better meet with a horrible ending in this...

Much better than book three. Though I was a little disappointed with the ending.
Overall completed the series well. ( )

Good conclusion to the series. Left me wanting more, which is a good thing. A lot of series overstay their welcome. This one didn't. ( )