I'm conflicted in my thoughts about this book. While I appreciated the strong representation of women's rights—a theme not often explored in fantasy—I'm left feeling frustrated by the familiar trope that women must sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The outcome for our main female character, in particular, left a bitter taste. While there is a sort of HEA for some characters, it doesn't extend to all. I also wished there had been more exploration of Sciona's discoveries and her experiences with them. Overall, the book gave me Lessons in Chemistry vibes with a sci-fi twist, which was an enjoyable surprise.

*Thank you to M.L. Wang, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.