The book was slow at first but that’s not unusual for a fantasy book. It definitely picks up once you’re 75% in! I devoured it after getting through the slow world building. I was lost in the beginning, but I think that was the point. The whole Ascension thing was supposed to be unknown because even Poppy didn’t know much about it. They explain what it truly is later on, and it makes sense why she didn’t know much about it. I very much enjoyed this and will read more.