3.75
“I saw the edge of the world- I saw possibility.”
If there’s one thing I love more than a good fantasy novel, it’s political intrigue. If there’s something I love even more than political intrigue, it’s history. This book bled all of that.
Hands down my favorite part of the novel were the scenes at the Versailles court or any scene where the nobility were interacting with Camille. It felt genuine to the time period, especially with the emphasis on the nobility ignoring the lower classes struggles.
My only two cons are that the ending seemed rushed, which led to confusion on my front and the villain was not my favorite. I preferred some of the side “villains” more than the actual one because it felt similar to a lot of other novels I’ve read.
Camille is an intriguing main character. She’s very flawed and very strong, which is a big part of the reason why I liked her. Her emotions and love for others is a driving force to all her antics even if magic tries to distract her along the way.
Also I adore sibling relationships, and this one felt allllll too real. I could connect with both of their perspectives, and it took the story to another level.
Can I also just say this novel blew me away with the diversity representation? It is by no means a lot, but it was there and left me screaming from the rooftops. I applaud Gita for including it because it enhanced the story, and her author’s note explaining her reasoning behind it made me even happier.
The hot air balloon aspect to the novel was a sweet surprise. I enjoyed learning about the mechanics and history of that invention. Plus, that plot point led us to meet some GREAT historical figures. I was squealing a little every time someone I knew from history appeared.
Furthermore, the love story was similar to a cute contemporary novel, and I liked how it wasn’t the forefront of the story. This story is about Camille’s dedication and love to her sister and their survival, and while magic messes with her goals, it remains her core duty even when romance comes along.
I’ve heard some talk about this book not being a stand-alone, and with the ending, I’d be very curious to see where Gita takes the story next. We don’t get to see the whole revolution, so it makes sense that there’s potentially more. I actually wanted more interactions between the characters and history besides just Versailles, and I feel that won’t be the case if there’s another. I’m excited to see what’s next!
Thank you Flatiron Books for sending an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.