Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGally for an ARC of this book!

As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I would love it. I have been struggling with a short reading attention span lately but as soon as I started this book I truly could not put it down; I finished it within two days! 

Vita was such a gripping main character and I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book as she comes to realize what she is capable of. Maren Chase has such a way with words that had me constantly highlighting sentences which moved me. The writing style had me feeling Vita’s anger, sadness, and hope alongside her. The way Vita’s father and Ardaric were depicted made me truly hate them and root for Vita to be their downfall. On a different note, the romance between Vita and Soline was lovely and heartfelt, and I wished for nothing more than for them to get their revenge and be happy. Vita’s friendship with the crows was also so endearing. There was a dark tone present throughout the book, but the sweet moments really shone through. 

My only minor gripe is that I wish there was more alchemy within the story. Ultimately, I think it was used in a satisfactory way, but it would have been nice to uncover more about its mysteries and the different ways it could be used.

Overall, I think this is a satisfying revenge story with a sprinkle of magic. I am eager to see what Maren Chase writes in the future.