*4.5 stars (triggers at the end)

this book was rather slow and a lot of inner monologue, but it felt like a true character-driven story, and i love characters over plot so it worked well in my favour. i have a feeling the story will get much better through the books and the journey fitz goes through :( that's my boy, for real, imma get you outta there, baby!

following fitz from when he's about 6 to where we end off in the book gave such a well-rounded development arc that i know isn't close to being finished, but was it fantastic already.

trigger warnings for
violence (explicit), torture, murder (attempted and completed), misogyny, abuse (physical, mental, emotional), neglect, death of an animal, intense bodily injury, suicidal ideation