First read (mar 21): 4.5/5

I had to take a day to figure out how I felt about this book. I loved reading it— the world building and magic system were so cool! Didn’t feel info-dumpy. We learned more about the world through the characters in an organic way. I did find Sciona to be a bit frustrating (that was probably the point haha) but wasn’t enough of a reason to not like the book!! Maybe, as a white woman, it felt a bit too much like looking in a mirror. I did struggle getting through parts of the end. Some parts dragged on for me, but seeing that it’s a standalone there was a lot to pack in to tie up loose ends, finish character arcs, etc. heartbreaking characters and connections.