In the land of Cambria, the gods are at war . Iris Winnows’s life takes a sudden turn when her brother Forest goes missing in battle, her mother is fired for drinking on the job and Iris takes a job at the newspaper Oath Gazette to make ends meet. Her sights are set on winning the columnist position from her wealthy rival, Roman Kit. To cope, Iris writes letters to her brother on an old typewriter, but they end up with her rival. Roman begins to reply to her under a pseudonym, and the two form a connection that takes Iris on a journey to the front lines and to the brink of love.

There’s been so much said about this book that I’ll keep it short. Starting my reading year with this novel was the best decision I made, as it started 2024 with a five star bang. It’s a gripping, atmospheric story with everything you could want: depth, flawed characters, class divisions, angst, romance, heartbreaking war scenes, and a vivid 1940s atmosphere. The writing is seamless and engrossing. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, consider this your sign to do so.