I picked this up having zero ideas on the storyline or world that it was written in. I wanted to go in blind and give myself a blank slate that wasn’t leaning on how much I loved Priory of the Orange Tree. I was surprised when I saw it was set in the future, London, AND had a group of clairvoyants as the main characters. Sign. Me. Up. Now, just as her other work required some time to world-build, this one does too. And it’s slightly confusing, however there’s a handy chart at the beginning that I found myself referring back to frequently. I think a lot of readers were sidelined with the world-building, assuming that a future-state of London wouldn’t require it. But it absolutely does and it is necessary to understand the structures by which this society functions. I found myself wrapped up in new world order doing whatever they could to rid society of “unnaturals”. It was startlingly to see the  extreme measures they were willing to engage it to achieve it. I won’t go into detail on the plot devices given the high spoiler possibilities, though. The detail given to world and the characters operating within it is unmatched. I’m convinced Samantha Shannon sold her soul to write these incredible stories. And for a first novel, too. Well… hot damn, it was worth it. I can’t wait to get the next book!