This book had intricate and fascinating world-building like I had never seen before. I loved the concept of a shattered, post-apocalyptic Earth, still continuing to have life, but in a way that's both evolved and archaic. Each fragment is an "ark" and a single (or a few) family trees, so geneology is hyper-important, rather like old Biblical tales; and presiding over each ark is a seemingly immortal being. In the wake of this neo-genesis, humanity has evolved psychic powers, objects have evolved psyches, and the surviving generation seems to have adopted a steampunk symbiosis. Many times, the manipulation of space, time, emotion, or perception is almost Wonderlandian, one scenario leading to the next with little transition, dizzying both hero and reader.

... Fabulous setup...

...BUT a cool world does NOT make up for a lack of PLOT or character growth! If you're waiting for a grand conspiracy as to what broke the Earth, why humans have superpowers, or who these angelic rulers (conquerors?) are, you will sadly be disappointed, as NONE of those topics are addressed in this book!

If you are waiting for our magical, mousy but plucky, heroine to get tangled in a grand adventure of self-discovery...you will ALSO be disappointed, as Ophelia - for all her brains, bravery, and bewitchery - largely just ALLOWS the plot to happen around her, or to her. She accepts abuse and marginalization as a fact of life, instead of fighting for her independence, or at least some dignity.

If you are waiting for a magical supervillain who bends perceptions of reality and psychically makes our hero doubt herself, fulfilling the BEAUTIFUL Gothic horror double punch of giving us the heebie jeebies AND making a commentary on gaslighting and women's rights...you will ALSO BE DISAPPOINTED, as the evil magical shenanigans largely happen to minor characters, happen "off screen", or are used in petty, insignificant ways, and never posed as a conflict our hero has to resolve so much as an inconvenience she needs to avoid. Also, her own perceptions are only lacking the Pride and Prejudice way of misjudging strangers, not in the maddening "I can't trust my own senses" kind of way. Which is a HUGE missed opportunity! Dig into the dark Wonderland!!!

If you are waiting for a friends-to-enemies romance... Keep waiting O_o. I think this hero might be ace? But it's hard to tell, because she is rarely shown basic human kindness. How could anyone flourish under those conditions? How can she possibly know her own feelings or body - there is no opportunity! I wish Ophelia had made some stronger friendships, instead of superficial ones. The fact that she has no clear relationship to any other character, as friend or enemy, is...upsetting... I read 500 pages, and all I know for certain is that the hero belongs OUT of this story. The problems she's in belong to the people around her, she should leave, there is nothing but custom tethering her to this situation. There is no moral or emotional sentiment that binds her to this place, these people, their conflicts... Why, girl?! Why?!

So many wasted opportunities...