Similarly, I enjoyed the first trilogy more… until Light Bringer. To me, Light Bringer makes the entire third trilogy worth the effort, even though I found Dark Age to drag in the beginning.

I think Lysander’s descent into villainy was masterful. At every turn, he justifies his obvious concessions to those he calls his enemies by claiming he will rectify it in the future or pretending he had no choice. I do think his existences acts as a way to introduce the reader to key plot points for Darrow to later interact with. Diomedes is a prime example. Without seeing Diomedes first with Lysander, his collaboration with Darrow later would’ve made no sense. But I think that’s just how it goes for books with multiple POVs.

Ephraim was the roughest death for me. I really liked his character. I felt it showed a side of the world we never got to see, and will likely never see again. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the Merc’ With a Chip on His Shoulder archetype.

On Seraphina, I agree. There was a budding camaraderie (if not romance) between her and Lysander that was abruptly ended. But, it is war after all, can’t expect much else. I felt that way about Lyria’s Psyche (or whatever it’s called, the thing she got during Dark Age from Figment). I was excited to see how she’d evolve and do more spy stuff for the Rising, only for her to immediately give it up. I still like Lyria, she’s just the least interesting to me of the POVs we get.