This was a good book, but I think it was marketed all wrong. It was marketed to me as a adult Fantasy vampire novel, whereas it read more like a YA romantasy with magical elements and very little vampirism. I think if it was marketed differently I would have enjoyed it more. 

The world was interesting but I feel like it could have been dove into so much more. We only really skirted the issues. I feel like this is because the relationships of the characters were given more weight than the actual plot and setting. 

I also wasn't sure about the characters. They were too quick to pivot on their values.

Sam went from hating all bloodwokers to being smitten with Shaan despite her being a blood worker. I also did not understand why she hated Isaac's murders despite the fact that they were pretty justifiable and Shaan has murdered lots of people herself.

I'd almost like to see a prequel of the book about Shaan and Isaac at blood working school so we can get more of an idea of how the magic system works and what it was like growing up in this world. I also wish that it hadn't been so rushed that Sam wad made a nobel. I feel like if we had spent more time with him as an unblooded character living in the slums then we could have gotten a better sense of world-building and the realities of living in this society as an unblooded. 

I thought the political themes were interesting, and it was nice to see queer/trans/poly/POC represented. Overall though I feel like a lot more could have been teased out of this book. I wonder where the author is going to go with the next one.

Definitley read it if you want a romantasy book with an interesting magical system, political themes, and a bridgerton vibe, but don't go into this thinking it's a vampire book.