This book was part murder mystery, part cozy fantasy, part romance, and overall a journey of healing. This book does have heavy themes though, and having one of the most triggering scenes at the very beginning could very well turn many readers away. Thankfully there are TWs at the very beginning, so readers can make an informed choice on continuing or not. 
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Velasin and Caethari are characters that I fell in love with, but without that I'm not sure I would have made it through this 500+ page book. I just wasn't as invested in the murder-mystery plot as I was in these characters, and I think if you don't develop that attachment this would be a slog to get through. 
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There are many worldbuilding details that are developed naturally, through conversations and descriptions that never felt too info-dumpy. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of, a fantasy world rich with its diverse cultural details, titles, and language that took a hot minute to figure out. I must confess, at certain points my brain had to let go of the need for locking away every detail and just went with the vibes instead. 😅
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My main complaint is the odd pacing that goes on in this book. This is a 500+ page book covering less than a week, so you can only imagine how many things are happening every day! The rate at which characters develop and plot points occur is a bit of a whirlwind. 
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Overall, these things weren't enough to detract from my enjoyment and I plan on reading it's sequel this December!