Tossup between rating this 3 and 2, but I had to work hard to finish it so I landed on 3. My problems with it were my own -- this wasn't the kind of book I wanted to be reading. Set in a post-WWI world with some heavy political dystopia stuff going on, our main character is a doctor who was in a war and an alien man who is the romantic interest.

It was confusing at first to have a male protagonist, it's been ages since I've read a novel with one. I haven't read any male/male romances before because I don't need any more male energy in my life, but the romantic aspects of the book were my favorite parts.

I never felt like I had any idea of the significance of the world structure -- the problem the magicians were primarily tasked with, the way the government works, anything about their enemies, no idea what is possible or not in this world. Endless exposition would be bad, but no explanation of the world left me failing to understand the significance of the things that happened throughout most of the book.

Also, the grimness of the society was a big turn off for me.

I'm sure I have friends that would enjoy this book, but it was not my cup of tea.