I head about this book by chance, after seeing a post from the author on Threads advertising her first ever author talk at a bookshop not so far away from where I live. I went, I saw, and I found a gorgeous human being, a kindred spirit book-wise and a debut novel I desperately wanted to read. And I was absolutely not disappointed!

The first thing you need to know is that you're quite literally thrown straight into the story head first, so take a deep breath before you dive in. And the pace does not let up - you'll fly through the pages without even realising. Although this isn't usually a style I enjoy (I do like me my plot and worldbuilding tied together in a nice neat package), in this case I actually found it really helpful in giving me an opportunity to sympathise with our FMC, Rosalind and, to some extent, feel what she feels upon landing in the fae world without warning. Just as she has to face whatever comes next with little warning or context, so must we as readers. 

The premise is a good one; trials based around the basest failings of humankind; the seven deadly sins. This is only the first book in a series though, so don't expect all seven just yet! All of the trials are cleverly put together, so even when Rosalind is aware she's in the midst of one, the ultimate goal aside from surviving isn't always clear until it has been achieved. Although you only learn the basics of Rosalind's background (which is a little disconcerting at first and does make it a little difficult to 'place' her), she is by no means lacking depth; each trial explores a different facet of the character's personality, so you're getting to know her as things progress, rather than having her foundations laid before the plot kicks in. And there are a few beautiful interactions between her and other characters which really bring her to life.

I really want more of Aalto though! He is still very much something of an enigma, and I'd love to see the story told from his point of view in future! He's not your typical brooding shadow-wielding MMC; far from it! The character artwork really helps with his characterisation, and by the end of the book I found myself sighing and smiling at his actions. 

The secondary characters are also really well crafted in the main. It is obvious who you are meant to root for and who you're meant to boo like a pantomime villain. Likewise, those that already play a significant role in the story again may not have a huge backstory, but it doesn't stop them from being characters you and Rosalind can relate to. There are a couple of characters I would have liked to see fleshed out a little more, but there is nothing lacking that is a detriment to the storytelling.

I would perhaps liked to have seen a slower pace for a couple of the trials; it felt to me like there was so much more scope to linger over the details and really make certain elements pop. But there are so many lines in here that seem almost 'throwaway' that I'm wondering if they are setting something up for the sequel. However, all of the unanswered questions feed in really well to the twists and turns, and indeed the ending! There is a moment that throws the reader and the character onto what feels like a new path, and from that moment on you just know the rest of the story isn't necessarily going to go the way you expected. 

I hope the next one gives me a moment to really sink into the story and the world, but otherwise more of the same is anticipated with baited breath!