Oh my god, this book has everything. Worldbuilding you can really sink your teeth into, including linguistics. Drama! Intrigue! Blackmail! Opulence! Angst! Csevet Aisava! And of course, at the heart of it all, a pure cinnamon roll of a protagonist who is not at all prepared for what is about to go down.

It's a hefty book, for sure. Between the similar-sounding names, the overcomplicated titles, plot that moves at a snail's pace through slow, formal imperial proceedings, it can get tedious. Somehow, though, Maia's kind, wholesome POV kept me hooked from start to finish, even if I usually crave tangible conflict and action. Nothing was rushed, no detail glossed over. I enjoyed this book a lot, and it's probably one of my favourites this year.

When I was a kid (maybe 13), I was very upset at my friend when we decided to make up a secret language, because she didn't know what declensions/conjugations were, and had no interest in me explaining them to her. THIS IS A BOOK FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.