DNF at 55%

When I begin a fantasy book, my first expectation is to be immersed in a captivating and well-developed world—it’s a given, right? This book starts with an intriguing premise: ensuring the undead are truly dead. However, as I delve deeper into the story, I find it hard to care about the world-building and the characters.

In this world, there are five houses: Bone, Iron, Gold, Silver, and Ghostsmith. Even though I’m already 55% through the book, I still haven’t grasped how these houses function and coexist. The lack of clarity leaves me disconnected from the story. I’ve even struggled to remember Wren’s name, which says a lot about her character’s forgettability. It’s disheartening not to feel a strong connection to the main character, especially given her role.

Instead of the plot picking up, it slows down in the middle with a barrage of unnecessary descriptions. The narrative becomes bogged down in detail, making it difficult to stay engaged. I worried that if I continued, I’d fall into a reading slump, as I did after pushing through ‘Hell Bent,’ which ultimately felt like a waste of time.

I don’t have much attachment to the main characters, except perhaps the House of Gold prince, who willingly allowed himself to be kidnapped, curious to see if anyone would come to his rescue. Overall, I’m disappointed not to have enjoyed this book, but I’ve learned from past experiences, and I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake of forcing myself to complete it.