I love ending the year with a great book, and this one exceeded all my expectations. 

I went into this not having read Raybearer, so it did take me a while to get into the story and the world it takes place in, but I absolutely loved the way Jordan introduces the setting to the reader. Immediately going in, you feel like you're being told a story, so when there are moments that might seem a bit info-dumpy, referencing things that have probably happened in Raybearer, it didn't take me out of the reading experience, but flowed very smoothly.

I loved every single character (except maybe Finnric–who just gives off major finance bro vibes–and of course Mamadele) and the romance was impeccable which is high praise coming from me. The chemistry was there from the second Sade meets the Crocodile and it just grew and developed so well even though it was over a shorter period of time. It didn't feel instalovey at all, and I was honestly rooting for the both of them.

Also the disability rep?? I was not expecting that going in, but wow was it done really well. And the ending almost made me cry in so many ways. This is the kind of rep I want to see in every book. 

What I most loved about this book is the commentary on our world and the capitalistic systems that run it. I honestly need to go back and reread some passages one day and highlight all the conversations Sade has with the Crocodile. It was so interesting seeing the way the Crocodile wanted Sade to become a voice for the revolution and Sade realizing she didn't want to be a giant overlooking and running a revolution but she wanted to be one of the ants working together to make change. When I look at everything that has happened in our world the past year and a bit, I feel like this book captured all of that so well. The scene we get where the Crocodile takes Sade up to a tower overlooking Unity Square was not just empowering for Sade, but also left me with more hope for our world. It reminded me of all the students in universities and colleges around the world getting together to create encampments for Palestine. It reminded me of the voices and chants, and the protests where everyone gathered together to fight for justice. And recently it reminds me of the murder of a certain CEO and people realizing that our world, our governments, and the people profiting off of our labour and tax dollars are the true enemies and that none of this was ever meant to benefit us.

There's this certain part of this book that also made me think of an article I read the other day...

<blockquote>"If the wealthy could not survive without menial labourers, I realized, then they would create a world where such workers were always available. Always desperate. Plentiful and ripe for the picking, like fruit at a produce stall."</blockquote>

The criminalization of homelessness, the prison systems, and even the way our governments are handling COVID and now bird flu...They are creating a world where they can have never-ending labourers, so that they can continue to live in luxury and comfort, while we, the general population, suffers. The one thing Sade points out is that the other side may be louder, and they may be able to call on someone who makes you doubt what your purpose is, but we are many, and we're stronger and bigger united because without us and our skills and trade, nothing would work the way it does now. It's why strikes like the Canada Post strike, and now the Amazon and Starbucks strikes freak out the CEOs, because they realize how much their power is dependent on the complacency of the people who work under them. And when the people realize how important they are and the rights they should be due, and rise up, it threatens the status quo.

<blockquote>"Because the common people do not trust the nobles. They know that these lords and ladies do not want to share the space at all.

"So 'order' will mean guards with spears, whom the nobles will bribe to harass unwanted commoners. 'Beauty' will mean removing benches where people could sleep and erecting statues in any open space in which a large group could loiter, especially for the purpose of protest."</blockquote>

I keep think about Indigo CEO Heather Reisman bribing Toronto police to break into protestors houses and arrest them in the middle of the night. And I think about UofT claiming the Student Encampment for Palestine was taking over spaces where other students just wanted to "eat breakfast."

This book just reflects our current world so well I could not possibly rate this anything under 5 stars. 100% recommend picking this one up and I can't wait to read Raybearer one day and then reread this book!