TW: Mentions SA

This is the first book by Ava Reid that I've actually enjoyed. While some of what I didn't like from her other works (cough The Wolf and the Woodsman cough) were still present (mainly repetitive prose and weird similes, though after the 60% mark it mostly went away) I ended up really liking the final messaging of the book.

There are consistent metaphors focusing on water, most of which I found incredibly relatable when they referenced Effy's assault. (When they didn't, it felt annoying) Effy's rage paired with how she feels like she's 'drowning' during those periods, feeling like she'll see her assaulter just around the next corner, wow. Though the prose stayed simple for the most part, with patterns to the text in the beginning that were a little bit annoying, I still think the message of female empowerment and overcoming odds that feel suffocating came through beautifully.

There are sections of the book in which Effy is openly bigoted towards her love interest, and that bigotry is never fully resolved. The war with Argant felt more like a thrown-in conflict between Effy and Preston to keep her from getting with him too early on, which is not a good reason to have a main character be bigoted. It felt very odd to me. The war isn't elaborated on much either, it feels more like an aspect of world building. I don't think Effy should have been left with her bigotry unaddressed either way.

2.5/5 stars from me. Would be 4 if not for the odd bigotry plot point. This book is nowhere near perfect, but I personally think it successfully conveys what it was aimed to. Recommended to readers who don't mind flowery script here and there, enjoy seeing protagonists actually grow throughout their story, and like a dash of magic in all the right places.