Reviewed as part of #IndieInkAwards judging. The score on this review does not reflect the score I provided for the awards judging, but is a reflection of the rating of this novel for my own personal read. Slow pace is always hard for me, and made this one pretty challenging to get through. I also wanted more queerness centered in this novel, but the queerness was not part of the primary conflict of the protagonist, nor was the protagonist a queer character. Could be a great fit for folks who enjoy slow paced novels, romance, and are maybe starting to dip their toes into LGBTQNIA2S+ SFF/aren't expecting that to be central to the novel or the protagonist's conflict. This novel is part of a series, so it's possible things shift a bit in later novels.