Somewhere between a 2 - 3 star. I haven't decided how I feel about the ending.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted AR.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TELL Y’ALL.

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I am sitting here to write this review after finishing it the previous day and I still haven’t figured out how I feel about it and what I want to do about it. I DID enjoy the audiobook. If you want to read ASTDR I would definitely recommend that avenue. Loved the narrator, no issues on that front.

My main issue stems from how short this book felt. It is barely over 300 pages and for a standalone fantasy that can be hit or miss. I thought things were moving TOO FAST and I couldn’t keep up with the speed of the timeline. It also made the main romance line feel off-kilter. I would have loved more connection and time between them.

I didn’t mind the plot. It’s one I’ve read before, but do enjoy often. But, as the story went one it took some final turns that have me in a befuddled state. I think it boils down to this not being the style of fantasy romance I personally like.

I’ve enjoyed Ann Liang’s previous books in the YA Contemporary Romance category, and I would still read her next book.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical fantasy romance
- Language: low
- Romance: make-outs; low innuendo
- Violence: moderate-high
- Content Warnings: weapons violence, poisoning, attempted murder, actual murder, loss of life, war themes