4.5⭐️

K this book was a solid 4 stars for me until the last 50 pages BECAUSE THAT ENDING (WOWZA!) easily bumped it up to 4.5. I love it when authors aren’t afraid of switching up the dynamics of the characters. 

The reason it wasn’t a solid 5 stars is cause I felt the romance plot was a little rushed. I didn’t dislike it, but at the same time it was a smidge forced in my opinion. Needed a little more banter and build up rather than just obviously already secretly being in love with each other pretty much the whole time. Like even when he has a right to be mad at her for her keeping a rather big secret from him, he forgives her almost immediately before he’s even upset. There’s no fight for it. Idk, it was just too easy!!! 

But I kind of liked that the romance wasn’t the main focus of the book, there was way more important shit to focus on. 

As for stand out characters, man, I love “the Nightmare”. He’s just a crazy lil guy who loves word play. Go off, king! What an icon. Excited for more from this lil psychopath. 

Also, I truly love Elm. Why did Elm and Elspeth have more chemistry than her and Ravyn? Like, I felt like they even had more scenes together?! Ravyn trusted and loved her from the start, so I felt like the relationship didn’t build, BUT Elm is super wary of her and RIGHTFULLY SO and they have a fun bantery dynamic! IDK, I FEEL LIKE THERES POTENTIAL THERE. NO? JUST ME?! ok whatever. Anyways. Loved him. He’s great. 

Ione, I’m interested in seeing more from her. I feel like she’s a part of some grand sub plot. Excited for her potential. 

In conclusion… The world building, magic system, overall badassery and concept of this book is outstanding. It was so friggin cool. Loved it. If the author took a smidge more time building the relationships between the characters it would’ve been an easy 5 stars for me. 

Excited for BOOK 2! LETS GO GIRLS!

Ugh god this book is SUCH a great read. I read it in paperback and I went through three highlighters and a ton of tabs annotating it. It starts off a little slow plot-wise but the world, magic, and characters drew me in so completely that I hardly even noticed slow points.

Mild spoilers ahead, big spoilers will be tagged

What I really enjoyed about the world building was how the author sticks to her guns about the isolation of Blunder. They don't, can't, travel beyond it, so there's not a single mention of the rest of the world. It's so well done. We only ever see Blunder, but that means it's fully developed with it's own culture, traditions, superstitions, and history. The world is steeped in lore.

The magic system here is so incredibly unique and well thought out, I can't get over it. An infectious mist from a vengeful deity is such a badass way to give your characters magic, and having each person get magic unique to them after the infection just adds to the coolness of it all. Then to add the Cards on top of that? Consider me obsessed. The whole idea of balance, and the way the characters hold it in a place of reverence as much as they hold their deity in a place of fear, is so well done. If the deity hasn't exacted her spiteful balance yet, the people will, in whatever way they think is best. The creativity here is off the charts.

The characters feel so real. Being in Elspeth's head, watching her co-exisg with the Nightmare because she has no other choice, was such a great idea. Ravyn and his family have the same motivation but you can see how it affects each of them individually. The romance felt a bit fast but I didn't really mind it all that much 🤷🏻‍♀️

The foreshadowing and plot thickening is really well done. My only real gripe with that is that I felt like plot twists such as

the nightmare being the shepherd king, and Ravyn and his family being direct descendants from him

were pretty spelled out and elspeth still didn't catch on despite it revolving around the creature living inside her head who dropped every possible hint about what was to come. Like she just, didn't connect the dots, or didn't even really try a ton? And normally that would bother me more but that's usually when characters are preached as geniuses and still can't see what's going on right in front of them (sorrengail 🙄). Elspeth isn't touted as her generation's genius detective prodigy so I was more miffed than actually mad about it.

I like that the author left a lot of different loose threads for the second book to finish. I'm not super far into the next one but I can already see the loose ends from the first one being pulled into play and it feels really well done.

Overall, this book is just fuckin incredible. The plot, the people, the world building, the incredibly unique and mysterious magic system, and the (albeit kinda fast) romance. I ate this up and enjoyed every minute of it. I do wish there was more diversity in the characters, and that elspeth was a little less oblivious to what's going on around her (and in her head). But besides those and the quick romance, I have no complaints. None. No notes, no crumbs. Gillig knocked it out of the fuckin park here. Even when the foreshadowing felt kind of not super hard to solve at times, it was still so well executed that I really enjoyed each of the reveals. And there was still plenty of things that surprised me. The action was great, the consequences of people's choices were logical, there's just so much I loved here.

2024 is me getting back in my romantasy era and this is such a dope way to start it.

Easily 5 stars.

It was a little confusing at the first few chapters because of the world building. But when you get past that, it will take your breath away.

This had me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath the entire time. How the story unfold was perfection. I didn't even expect to cry but I did at the last part. 

This was a very great read to start the new year and I can't wait to read the second book!

What a captivating story! I loved the card component and it's similarities/differences to Tarot. I found the characters loveable/hateable as appropriate in the story. I loved the slow build romance but it wasn't the main focus of the book (not much spice). The magic was intriguing and I was so interested in the Nightmare. He gave Cheshire cat vibes which is my JAM. There were a few spots where descriptions were odd to me and there's a spoiler that I foun  obvious and discovered in chapter 3 that the main character didn't discover until chapter 22 so I grew a little impatient waiting for her to put the pieces together. Overall I was obsessed and read most of this in one day. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel! 

What a horribly cruel cliffhanger ending!!!

I recommend waiting until the series is complete tbh.

The magic system is fascinating & the lore is intriguing. It’s like a dark and twisted fairytale full of riddles & rhymes. An epic quest full of shock & horror and a sprinkle of slow-burn romance.

It’s not FTB but the spice is mild. 

Idk if this is categorized as a romance, but unless there’s an HEA- I might trash it in my fury & rage! I am REELING after that ending!! Toddler tantrum level 3000!!!

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.