A slow burn fantasy that serves as a good setup for a series, but will require a patient read.
The series is listed as an adult read, but I personally placed it in the new adult category. The primary characters are younger in age and the narrative fits for a bit of a younger audience. It is a bit more of a high fantasy though, so it can be something of a complex read.

The novel is set in an interesting world that is constructed well, but did take me a little bit to get a handle on. The world appears to be both Greek and Russian influenced and is constructed along the idea of having gods who were killed and replaced by human representatives. The resulting factions are in a tense political situation with an ongoing struggle for power.

The primary protagonist is Rhea, daughter of one of the human "gods" who is tasked with marrying a suitor at each seasonal transition. Her murder of this suitor is then responsible for determining when the next seasonal change will take place. It's an interesting (if odd and slightly morbid) magical gift.

The plot moves quite slowly for the first half of the book, with lots of world building and character set up. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibes though, so it wasn't a slog of a read, just a slow and steady pace. Once I got to the last third of the story, things really took off. I enjoyed the political intrigue at that point (not usually my thing), and the stakes finally started to get amped up. The ending was solid for a series read (this is currently listed as a duology), but definitely leaves things unfinished and a bit frustrating. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel.

This will be a great read for those who love political fantasies with rich world-building, as long as they don't mind a slow pace.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *