Such an entertaining historical fantasy romance! My favorite parts about it were definitely the plotty and worldbuilding-heavy bits. I liked especially how the worldbuilding was revealed, as if in sea waves. First, there’s the magic system becoming more detailed bit by bit, then there’s the faerie subplot, then there’s the big reveal and everything connected to that. The way it was constructed was so appropriate to the vibe and the themes of the story. I  also really liked that in a world with magic that gets actively studied and honed into a science, there was still room for general superstition and “is this hidden reality or genuine myth, and if it’s real, then how (un)like the myths it actually is.” 

Though at the same time, I was also confused by some parts of the setting, such as Soren’s initial reaction to John’s magic being all “what do you mean magic is real?” when later it’s indicated that it’s pretty baked into the society. Yes, it’s not something the nobility does, but clearly it’s a service the nobility purchases. I doubt Soren would be as surprised by the existence of cooks, blacksmiths, or factory workers. So that one discrepancy took me out of the story a bit.

Outside of the above, the book kept me invested for the whole run. The plot was exciting, with something happening all the time. I liked how the mystery was constructed, with the perpetrator being pretty much known from the start and the real question being, “How did he achieve what he did and how do we undo it?” The whole “talking to objects” aspect of the magic system was super inventive and well done. The faeries were a great mix of spooky and beautiful. I liked how the female characters were included into the plot, though perhaps more could have been done on this front.

As for the romance itself, it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea—I’m not big on relationship that start on sexual chemistry alone, and the progression from “we dislike each other but would really like to fuck” to “we’re in love forever” in like a week is just too fast for my personal tastes. But I recognize this is 100% a matter of taste, and I think those who do prefer these specific tropes will find the romantic plot to be rather well done. Hell, at certain points even I felt pretty moved by it!