Fantasy not to escape reality but to understand it. Themes of revenge and rebellion, social justice and oppression, loss and love and humanity wrapped into an fascinating fantasy setting making up an intriguing adventure. ( )

So much fun. ( )

This one really takes off around the halfway point. I'm impressed with Varela's construction and her skill in writing emotional scenes. I was definitely caught up. A few points off for some character knowledge contrivances that I found irritating and for the self-contained story elements to be a bit of a letdown. Still, I'm highly motivated to read the sequel. ( )

I don’t have enough praise for this book, I inhaled it ( )

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel, because Varela’s writing is exquisite! I’ll be on the lookout for any future releases from her.

The amazing worldbuilding is a definite highlight of this book — there’s a bit of an info dump in the beginning, just a tiny one, but later on there’s this gradual reveal I so adore in my fantasy books. I loved all the little ‘true story’ tidbits in each chapter, in the form of journal entries of many different people.

The plot was very well-paced, and the slow unfolding of the bigger intrigue — not just Ayla’s revenge — was extremely enjoyable and fascinating; it was almost impossible to put this book down at times!

As for the romance: it’s ‘enemies to lovers’ in its purest sense. The MCs are natural enemies, their Kinds want to kill/subdue one another, and they couldn’t be more different; Ayla is a human girl, a rebel, Crier’s an Automa — a kind of alchemically-enhanced android — and a lady, daughter and heir of the sovereign responsible for the death of Ayla’s family… It seems impossible, and it is, but the attraction between these two is so undeniable, the slow-burn so perfectly executed that their single kiss felt monumental.

Loved this. ( )