Wow. This book sucked me in and did not let me go.

Told in two timelines, we follow Jabrael as she recounts the story of her youth and the events that led to her becoming a widely feared prisoner after growing up a princess. It is a slow-paced story, and that would usually bother me, but the heartbreaking steadiness of Jabrael's voice managed to keep my attention all the way through to the end. The burning mystery of how it all fell apart and the world came to be what it is in the present-day looms bitterly over everything, but still the descriptions of her teenage years and friendships are told with such beautiful tenderness.

The world-building is rich and immersive with two separate magic systems, and it's clear the author built it meticulously and with great care. The characterisations is where this book really shines though. Every character feels distinct and layered. I loved being in Jabrael's inquisitive mind as she was figuring out who she was and would become in a changing world. Her friendship with El was beautifully written and felt so true. I enjoyed reading about her budding friendship with The Four as well and am excited to get to know them better, although I am deeply, deeply concerned about their fates.

If I had one critique to give it would be that we are introduced to a lot of world-specific terms early on, and I found it really difficult to remember which were connected to Sila culture and which were Amereld terms. Given that Jabrael's feelings towards being both Sila and Amereld is a defining part of her character, I wish the text could have been a little clearer on this point. I definitely made use of the glossary.

Overall, this is an immersive and character-driven story that rewards the patience of its slower pace with rich world-building, tender relationships, and questions that kept me turning the pages. I’m invested in Jabrael’s story and the fate of the characters around her, and I am absolutely foaming at the mouth for volume two, and three, and whatever else comes after.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!