For a fantasy debut, credit where it’s due, it didn’t always feel like it. No time is wasted in immersing you into this Egyptian inspired world, the politics and the outlawed magic

I really liked the writing, it was full of atmospheric world building that really made this world come alive. The political intrigue was interesting and I thought it was executed well, it incorporated the history of the world and how it affected the current climate and the characters. There was some really clever quotes and statements every so often and they really stood out which enhanced my reading experience

For the most part, the characters were enjoyable to follow. The main character had secrets and burdens all whilst dealing with her current situations which added some depth. There’s also some great side characters that not only had their own unique personalities but they also had relevance to the story

The pacing of this book is its biggest downfall, the first 1/3 of the book is enjoyable and I was finding it exciting. As soon as the slow burn enemies to lovers trope was introduced it started to lose its momentum and it all started to feel generic. Further exploration into the magic system would have also been of benefit to the story as there wasn’t much explanation

I think it’s a shame about the pacing as this had potential to be such a fun ride and I’m not too sure if I’m forgiving for it. There’s still a chance of redemption though depending on the execution of book 2 as this book ends on an interesting cliffhanger