(TRIGGERS AT THE END, PLS HEED THE TWS)
in actuality, I would rate this closer to a 3 stars - perhaps a 2.5 stars. there were aspects that I actually quite enjoyed, characters I genuinely found myself rooting for and hoping to see. I was intrigued by the plot and I wanted to know what would happen next.

but I also see what the author has been doing following the release of this book and I really hope she has learned from this experience, as I wouldn't wish the failure of a potentially successful career on her. I was excited for this book, and still read it and found myself pleasantly surprised, but I cannot separate what happened with this story, I just can't.

I've been previously replied to by authors on books I was honestly reviewing, and time and time again, I have to remind author: REVIEWS ARE FOR READERS, NOT FOR AUTHORS. if the review is from readers separate to the editing and drafting process (i.e. beta/alpha readers, editors, sensitivity readers), then the review is NOT FOR YOU. it's for other readers to see what people think of the book and what it's offering to everyone. please for all that is my wellbeing and your own, don't read your own book's reviews bc it makes no difference if it's a 5 star review or a 1 star review, it is not for you. ask for criticism all you want, but that's for the process before release and upon it from those in your circle, and you should take those criticism in stride.

replying to reviewers who gave constructive criticism on the multiple grammatical errors (not just spelling issues, but whole sentence structure and grammar rules were off), the way there are straight ripoffs from other titles such as The Witcher, or the honestly concerning representation of brown people in the book is inexplicably concerning? do you not see what that looks like? "hey, you didn't like my book bc of XYZ, you must have shit taste in books." bestie that isn't right.

Piper has seen the error in hers ways and has apologised, but it still happened.

NOW, speaking on the actual book itself. the characters were probably the strongest part of this while also being the more concerning aspect. to start, the characterization of Nox... I actually think Nox is my favourite character in the entire book, I was rooting for her time and time again. but it was difficult to read her parts as every description of her was about her "nighttime complexion" even though she is, to my understanding, a lighter brown and not darkskinned. I AM A DARKSKINNED POC, PLS DON'T TRY ME ABT MY OWN IDENTITY. I was scratching my head at her descriptions like ??

to be fair and transparent, Amaris was described in the exact opposite so that was obviously the author's way of differentiating the two and making them unique, but with Nox it made me uncomfortable at times. not to mention she is repeatedly assaulted and harassed, while also being sold in forced servitude as an involuntary sex worker. I felt myself wondering many times if all of that was necessary; traumatizing Nox, your leading POC love interest, for shock value. because that's what it was a lot of the time later in the book. situations happened to her that were for pure shock value and nothing more. idl about anyone else, but I don't enjoy that in my fantasy and I've read a lot fo great adult fantasy books that do not employ sexual assault and abuse of their characters for shock value.

next point regarding Amaris now. I think if you are not familiar with The Witcher, you wouldn't know that the character of Amaris is nearly characterized identically to Ciri. their backstories are different, somewhat, but what happens in the near past and present of this story to Amaris is almost the same to what Ciri experienced through the books, as well as the TV show. and it's hard to argue against these claims and say it was just coincidence bc Piper herself is a big, big fan of The Witcher show and games. it was the reason I followed her TikTok in the first place, for her Lullaby of Woe video, so it's difficult to say she wasn't aware of the similarities as she's a fan of the series eerily similar to her own.

all in all, I would say this is a promising start to a series and I truly hope Piper learns from this situation; get herself a proper editor and sensitivity readers who can ensure these stories are told with the utmost care I assume Piper has for these characters.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR: sexual content (consentual), child abuse, sexual violence (on-page, recollected), sexual assault, harassment (verbal, emotional, physical) general violence (graphic)