I can’t say as much as I want to without going into spoilers, but just to start off, this has one of the best romance plots I’ve read since The Cruel Prince. The tension, the chemistry, the evolution of it—it’s just crafted so damn well. 

The characters will both charm you and make you want to fling the book across the room. There isn’t a character mentioned that doesn’t have a full story—no matter how limited they’re mentioned. 

And the magic system appears so simple, but is far more complex than even the ones who wield it can understand. I even enjoyed how it tied in with the historical setting of the book—which I often find is difficult to accomplish for some stories.

I have read reviews of people not liking this, but I suspect a lot of people go in wanting the same thing from an author they experienced when they read whatever book of theirs first grabbed their attention. I truly admire writers who can give us a variety in their writing, all while not limiting their talent for storytelling. Some people love Leigh Bardugo because they read S&B first, and that’s justifiable—it’s a great series. But I was introduced to Bardugo through Ninth House, which is quite different from her Grishaverse. I don’t think it’s unfair to say this book is closer to her Ninth House style.