I have to give props to the world building in this book. There are elements of the world that aren't revealed until later, but it's different and not very predictable. It was really nice to have those elements introduced with new lore and history attached .  There is a class akin to a clergy in this world and they are highly unlikeable, which is usually what I expect. The romance was quite fast paced and started off as physical attraction that then evolved into more. We get to know Poppy and Hawke better as the story progresses and Poppy has a tremendous amount of character growth. Hawke plays a large role in helping her begin to question her motivations and why she is taking steps to become an Ascended. The side characters, such as Viktor and Tawny are also fleshed out well and let us get to know Poppy better through her relationships with them. Despite having the burden of being a Maiden and other responsibilities, she has a friend and a father figure that feel as important in the story as the romance. The story changes tone by the second half, but it's a great twist and by the end I was craving more. There is a cliffhanger, so I would have the sequel nearby. I can't say much more without spoiling, but if you like fast paced romances with a mysterious plot with a twist and fantasy lore presented in a unique way, this is for you. Please note the trigger warnings as there are moderate descriptions of those triggers in the book.