This series was different in that it billed itself as having the villain as the protagonist.  I argued in my review of the last book, The Rose Society that Adelina wasn’t really the true villain of the story.  While she does commit several villainous acts on her way to power she is just as much a victim as anyone else. I also argued that Teren, in his religious fervor was the character to be most feared then any of them.  After finishing The Midnight Star, I feel a little justified and also not.  It starts out with Adelina and her Roses conquering another country by fear.  She is merciless in her rule.  She has taken all the power away from the un-marked and given it to the marked.  She kills anyone who speaks out against her and punishes her family. She is by no means a heroine to be worshiped.  She is also a young girl who has been bullied, abused and marginalized her whole life.  In her mind she is righting the wrongs.  Taken power and given it back to the powerless.  I’m not saying it’s justified or what she did was right but I can also understand her too.  A crisis bigger then her own fears aligns her once again with the daggers and gives her a path of redemption.  Raffalle has figured out the origin of the blood fever that lead to the Young Elites powers. They was a rift in the mortal and the immortal world that allowed the powers of the Gods to effect the mortal world.  It’s now poisoning them.  Their powers are turning against them. Lucent, who could fly, bones are hallowing out.  Violetta’s power to block others including her own is not overcoming her.  Adelina’s voices in her head are her own illusions overtaking her.  The only way to save them and the world is to go to where the rift occurred and offer to give their powers back. Now these enemies will have to work together but how can there when there has been so much blood already spilled and the body count in this book is pretty high as well.  I wouldn’t say it had a happy ending but really the only ending that it could have.  It was bittersweet.  I will miss the lush atmosphere of this book.  Stylized after a medieval society, Marie Lu gave her settings life and beauty.  It was a good series and enjoyable read but year not going to lift you up.