I didn't enjoy this book. However, Literally Everyone who has reviewed it before me gave it 5stars, so I'm not sure if you should take my word for it.

This book follows Thora, a slave with aspirations of becoming an investigator. She and her friend Diem get shipped off to solve a mystery and play the game of politics.

I think the greatest falling of this book was on a nuts-and-bolts level. I was constantly confused. Like, I think the character is alone, but then it turned out they were in a crowd. I didn't understand what Thora's short term objectives were. I couldn't feel time passing due to the transitions often being minimal.

The worldbuilding felt like it wasn't really rooted. People have an interesting vocabulary, where they say certain words (reckon, true) a lot. Where did this come from? The religious culture is obsessed with death. Does this really come into play when actual death is taking place? Not really. It's mostly just a mantra and artistic style.

And don't even get me started on the winter hat. I get that it's a symbol of romantic commitment and rebellion against the caste system, but do we have to flip flop how we feel about it 3 times in the end of the book alone?

Thanks to Netgalley and Small Heart Press for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.