This was brutal and absolutely heartbreaking in the best way. I have to start off by saying this book was HEAVY. The cruelties and trauma that the characters endured was heartbreaking and honestly disgusting. WARNING: there is rape, sexual assault, and other dark themes. I felt so bad for them and I just wanted them to get the happiness they deserved. The storytelling was interesting and told from both Kora and Acheron’s POVs. Acheron was a slave who earned his freedom but is forced to marry Kora, and Kora is a girl who watched her family die and is haunted by the ghosts of the undead everywhere she looks. Both are being manipulated by kings, queens, and past tormentors while facing the looming danger of the Minotaur. Acheron is an extremely traumatized character struggling to just get by day by day while Kora is a very compassionate yet brave character. The romance that slowly buds between them is quite sweet and caring, Kora is a nurse who continues to tend to Acheron despite his adamant refusal to accept any of her care. They both care for each other but are struggling with either their past demons or the present danger at play. The story was definitely unique and I liked the added magical element of the gods and monsters mythology into it. Both Kora and Acheron must rely on each other to survive and make it out of the looming dangers while also facing the dangers of the romance budding between them. I liked how the story wrapped up and I am so pleased that these characters got the happy ending they deserved and are slowly healing.

*Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*