this started out really interesting, but by roughly 60% it was losing me so badly and honestly i skimmed the ending.
the worldbuilding is interesting but also incredibly convoluted and confusing? like theres

a world that kinda exists alternate to earth called Fidelis, it’s like a college town kind of ??? its filled with scholars (these scholars love to party man every time theyre on earth theyre partying lmao) and they used to be able to travel to many different worlds multiverse style but now they cant, because reasons. theres also gods who are really powerful (but can somehow be contained in perfectly normal chains) and the antagonist is one of these gods who somehow looks like a person and she drinks magical childrens blood to stay young. the kid she abused throughout his childhood is the love interest for our main character, violet, whos family’s blood is somehow tastiest and best for staying young for this goddess?

if you read all that, yes its that wild and i didn’t even explain everything.
ALTHOUGH i am a sucker for pretty writing about stars and space and this had that in spades
edit: should add that: im generally a big villain lover. i think villains in fantasy stories, and any story in general, can say a lot about their world and/or be incredibly entertaining. Penelope was not that. she’s pretty much just an abusive parent with godly powers. that’s not a fun or interesting villain to read or think about.