While this isn't a book that I love with my whole heart, I love it all the same. It was perfect for what it was, and I really enjoyed my time spent listening to it and what it did differently from other YA stories out there. There's a lot here that Levenseller did differently, and sometimes better, than some recent YA fantasy releases, and I loved the breath of fresh air that came with those changes.

First off, I absolutely loved our MC, and how she's different without being Different. She struggles with a lot due to her anxiety, and I liked how this was woven through the story. It wasn't a "quirk" only there for a scene or two, and really played a role in Ziva's whole character. I felt seen at moments, and loved how accurate and true the portrayal felt. It was also just fantastic to see a fantasy character struggle with anxiety, and have her still be strong, be a hero, be someone to look up to. I also loved other personality traits of Ziva's that set her apart from a lot of other female MCs lately. She's physically strong due to her line of work, but she's a pacifist through and through, and hates the idea of violence and inflicting it, whether directly or indirectly. For her, her weapons are meant to stabilize the country and keep others safe, not inflict harm. And when something threatens these morals, she fights against it, fights for peace and safety, rather than greed or power. She's good to her very core.

I also really loved the positive sister relationship here, and while there are some arguments between them, they're generally resolved quickly (a testament to their strong relationship). I love how much love these two have for each other, and how supportive they are of the other (but not ignorant of each others' flaws). I also love that sisterhood is woven into the very fabric of the world this story takes place in, and I can't wait to see more of that in the next book. I also loved how this sisterhood remained a core part of the story even when romances were being built alongside it!

The romances were also fantastic, and I especially loved what the author did with Kellyn. While he as a whole is an interesting character, if not wholly unique, I love how Levenseller kept him a strong, independent character even after he started liking Ziva. He still chose his family first, and he kept his motivations throughout the book. He didn't become just a shadow for the MC, like many love interests do, and I loved that. Petrick was also fascinating, and I really liked how things went down later, especially regarding some of the twists! It used a trope while still giving it a new spin.

The magic in this book was also pretty interesting, and I loved seeing the different types of weapons Ziva made, and the enchantments she thought up for them. I really hope we get more of this in the next book, and maybe even get to meet even more magic users! I'm super excited, and can't wait to read it and see what happens next!