Fantastic first book! With enough lore to make the world feel real and understandable, while also dangling so many secrets at us. There is a lot to be discovered from here and I’m just itching to get into the next book to find out more.

On the darker side, there are some scenes that others probably can’t handle (as you can see based on the reviews), but there is a need for the show of brutality the FL deals with. In stories like these I think it’s important to give shape to the horrors of the world, and honestly they aren’t unfamiliar horrors all the time… especially when it comes to just how the women are treated. If you’re a woman, these horrors are probably closer to home than we like to admit, and I think it’s good to explore those familiar horrors even in a fantasy setting.

The FL is very interesting, she definitely feels like her own character. Some people may wonder why she lets so many horrible things happen to her, but I think it lends to the kind of person she is and what she’s dealing with internally. I want to see her grow throughout the series and to have growth she has to start from a less than perfect place. She’s sheltered but does know pain and suffering, and that’s an interesting mix, especially when she is self aware about it.

I don’t think this is a spoiler because it was soooo obvious, Midas is not her end game love interest. Their relationship is not meant to be healthy and loving, so people getting upset with him as the ML makes no sense… because he’s clearly not the one she’s going to end up with. If seeing how he treats her turns you off right at the beginning, GOOD, that’s the point. Keep going, so far this book was worth it and if the following books are anything like this they’ll be worth it too.