(hidden for minimal spooilers)

The world-building in this book is astonishingly good, and the sense of place for Prague is very well done. The main character has a mystery that she hides from others, and there are deeper mysteries hidden from her. The first third of the book is really beautifully drawn, and the initial questions are very well set up.

And then it makes an abrupt left turn into a doomed-true-love-on-first-sight-that-crosses-space-and-time-including-death romance. Which is fine, I have nothing against TWOO WUV, but this part of the...was just not as interesting as the actual story the novel began with.

The last third of the book is an extended flashback, and feels flat. Although yes, it explains the entire backstory, again: not nearly as interesting as the first third of the book. The final reveal has a kind of DUN DUN DUN tone, and the emotional upheaval between the lovers that CLEARLY has to result from that reveal happens offscreen, and is referred to in one sentence in the epilogue. The book just ends.

Which is not to say I hated the book, because I didn't (I bought the second one instantly after this), but Taylor is clearly an extremely talented fantasy writer and I wanted more.