I received an advance review copy from the publisher; all opinions are my own and honest.

Magic isn’t good or bad. It’s people who make it dangerous.

This is definitely one of my Most Memorable Reads of 2019, with its complex worldbuilding (including a West African-inspired magic system); nuanced, sympathetic [main] characters; and well-developed, well-paced plot. Tropes are incorporated in an interesting way, though a lot of them don't become apparent until closer to the end. The writing flows, mostly conversational with some lapses into more detailed description. And I particularly enjoyed the alternate-POV interludes, adding backstory and intrigue.

I was immediately drawn in by the opening, and the ending is extremely satisfying in that it feels like a pause: the close of this installment, but just the beginning of a larger adventure/battle. Somewhere in the middle I admittedly zoned out a little, though that might be because I've been in kind of a weird headspace lately (i.e., through no failing of the book itself).

My biggest reservation is with the interpersonal relationships: we're frequently told how much certain characters care about each other, but I didn't feel it for the most part. That said, I do like that there's a variety of dynamics — romance, yes, but also family and friends — and I'm generally a fan of the romance tropes that were included.

Overall, a solid start to a series I look forward to continuing!

content warnings: 

mind altering substance (blood medicine), mind control, child abuse, blood magic, self-mutilation, on-page murder, major character death(s), implied sexual content, infidelity, sex under false pretenses (impersonation)

  (from the author)
rep: 

West African cast + worldbuilding