I have conflicting emotions about this book. One on hand, I loved the writing style, themes, and exploration of alchemy. The writing was full of vivid imagery and hoghly immersive. On the other hand, the romantic development was lacking and the ending was a let down. The decisions Zilan made leading up to the climax felt very uncharacteristic. I do, however, like that KLB is willing to take her stories down a path that not many YA authors are willing to go. Overall, a decent read that is worth checking out.