In the conclusion to the Red Sparrow trilogy, we again see the CIA take on Vladimir Putin and the SVR. This time, Nate, a CIA operative, is tasked with identifying a traitor who has worked their way up into an important role in the US government, while Dominika, an SVR operative, and Nate’s lover, is slowly working her way up through the ranks in the Russian government, edging ever closer to Putin’s inner circle. It’s a great premise for a story. Unfortunately, the book fails to deliver.
The first book in this trilogy had lots of gritty spy action, clever banter between operatives, and a daring romance budding between Nate and Dominika. The last two books in this trilogy crank up the romance piece, while dialing down the spy action and clever banter. And when I say “romance,” what I really mean is sex. Lots and lots of sex. Nate and Dominika bang not only each other, but nearly every other character in the story, male or female. Moreover, you get to hear detailed descriptions of each encounter, including the continued obsession with boobs (see my review of The Palace of Treason for my previous rant on boobs).
There is still some spy action in this book, but it’s nowhere near as interesting as the first one. The plot has a few interesting parts, but the conclusion is largely disappointing. Overall, it’s not a terrible book, but this entire series could’ve been much better.
