After having finished the book, I look at the cover and I can’t help but stop to just admire the delicate hints and every purposeful detail that went into the making of it. How subtle but also in ur face it is. It’s most definitely going to be one of my most cherished books. 

The writing: 

Seamless. There was a finesse and balance and weight to each word. So thoughtful, well placed. It read like water, soft and nurturing as a lake at times but also harsh and demanding as an ocean during a storm. And how I relished the extremes and everything in between. I’m genuinely so in awe over how beautiful the prose was.

The way every plot point unfolded was butter on a hot day, it felt natural but still had the effect of a bludgeon to the head. I found myself enjoying the story, not stressing about the ending but instead appreciating the journey.

The characters: 

Phenomenal. Unique, dynamic and so competent in the roles they play within the plot. 

The gargoyle. — Bartholomew. The apple of my eye. I just wanna put him in my pocket and protect him from the world 😫☹️☹️☹️☹️ him and his idioms against the world 💔💔💔

Six. The diviner. — Sybil Delling. My precious. My best girl. The way I wanna give her all the cuddles in the world 🥹❤️‍🩹 Her past and everything she’s done to survive made me wanna cry. Her growth was so rewarding. 

Rory — 🫦🫦🫦 that’s my man. I’m claiming him. The way he’s everything I never knew I needed. So gentle under that hard coarse exterior. Ugh I want him so badddd. Like he’s so perfectly my type it’s criminal 😫 no bc the way every word out of his mouth had me laughing or crying or screaming shutting the book banging my fist on the walls in agony over him being fictional 😔🤚 

The banter and verbal sparring had me eating out their hands. I was screaming with laughter, giggling and blushing and twirling my hair. Their humour was my humour, their love my life source. God, could this book get any better? Like I don’t think I’ll ever find anything as remotely compelling and loveable and still so haunting as this book.

The world building: 

The Stonewater Kingdom was so hauntingly gothic it sang to every cell in my body. The author didn’t shy from creating every manner of creature and giving them a backstory, making them more than just 2D plot devices. 

Overall:

I’ve not felt this compelled while reading a book in what feels like so long. I missed this so much I almost forgot what it felt like. 

My first Gillig novel was a SUCCESS and I’m so glad I have more of her to readddd — I’m so excited bc I’ve just found a new fav author 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:

(I did predict the major plot twist hehe — yes I’m pretty chuffed about it even tho it seemed pretty obvious but idccc I’m taking my wins and cheering) 

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧

Nomyn & Veela - Bloom

Imaginary - Evanescence

AURORA - To Be Alright 

My last breath - Evanescence

Tamino - The First Disciple

AURORA - The Flood 

Tamino - Indigo Night

Orlando Kallen - Lone Wolf 

AURORA - Your Blood

AURORA - The Secret Garden

Flyleaf - All Around Me 

Sacrifice - London After Midnight

𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

‘I raised the remains of my idleweed. Shot smoke out of my mouth at the sky.

Rory itched his nose with his middle finger.’

King Castor's finger, slightly wobbly, pointed once more. "The pretty one."

Rory's eyes flitted to me. But the King's finger, the knighthood's collective gaze, was trained on Four.

"Just as well. Sometimes, Bartholomew; I think her quite the bitch.”

"Gargoyle!"

"I am simply saying what is on my heart. Who would? fault me for that?"

"No one's as strong as you, is that it, Diviner?"

"Put you on your back at Coulson Faire easy enough, didn't I?" That got a smile out of him. A moment later I was in the air, slung over his shoulder like a dead deer. I swore and he chuckled, glass crunching beneath his boots as he moved through the room.

"Threw you on that bed easy enough, too," he murmured.

"Which one, Diviner?" Rory's voice was deathly calm. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Which one marked up your face?"

The gargoyle batted his eyes. "Oh, Bartholomew. He's dreamy."

I pulled myself upright. Reached for his cheek-dragged the corner of his mouth up with my thumb until he wore an absurd half smile. "That's better. Still foul and unknightly, though."

"Just the way you like me." Rory nipped the pad of my thumb.

"So if I were to throw it rough side up, let's say, at your head—"

"You'd be picking the pieces of my brain off Benji's cloak."

"Not much of a mess, then."

Errant knight Rodrick Myndacious, prideful, disdainful, god-less, believed in me.

"An entire branch of idleweed?" I quipped.

"Little sounds?" came his slow, mirthful reply. 

He said it intently. Like he was imploring every part of me to take heed. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Sybil Delling."

Rory held me tightly, grasping the nape of my neck with one hand while the other drifted down my spine in a long, deroted caress.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:

Anathema by Keri lake (in the sense that they’re both gothic and have really well crafted worlds and characters) 

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The author said the mmc reminds her of tamino and the way I rannnn to buy this 🤚