Flesh is survival and power, and in a place where magic is order Elfreda must find a way to survive. Elfreda is a Sister, part of a women only group in charge of keeping order in the city through the use of “lace” essentially magical ropes, and the way to maintain that is through the consumption of human flesh and blood. The Sisters pay a heavy price to have their power and follow specific practices that could kill them, that have killed them, and have made them want to kill themselves. The worst thing to happen to a Sister is getting pregnant, and Elfreda will do whatever it takes to avoid that fate, even if it means going against everything. The Sisterhood of Aytrium have a magical bloodline and Elfreda wants nothing more than to get rid of it and to leave. When Elfreda is is offered the chance to escape, she agrees to spy for a shadowy group in exchange for the highest probability of her escaping the Sisterhood. But when she starts spying she finds that the Sisterhood is hiding more dark secrets than she had thought, with Sisters being murdered, rebels uprising, and the Haunts (monsters that hunt down the sisters) start showing up more, Elfreda finds that there is more at stake than she thought and she doesn’t know who she can trust. Elfreda uncovers secrets and plots, and soon discovers there is more to her blood than she had previously thought and all the visions she’s been suffering might mean more. This is a fantastical read, filled with blood, bonds being tested, and mystery, this was just an overall great story. I loved getting to know Elfreda and how she struggled between choosing what to do and trying to do what was right. The entire premise of the story was just so interesting and the magic system was unique and just down right terrifying. Its got magic, its got gore, and its got love ( of all kinds ), and it just is a must read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*