I’ve struggled to get my mind right with this one. 

I think the author did a disservice by trying to make this story so flowery, so to speak. It’s already high fantasy. I feel like some of the pace, the way the words flowed, etc. wasn’t necessary. The narrator also made it feel like I was reading a sweet little fairytale. We were in fast-paced battle scenes and the narration didn’t change one iota. Didn’t speed up, no emotion change, nada. 

That said, I enjoyed the story. I found it interesting and the magic system set up unique. The author struggled to build relationships. If the spice was removed from this book, it would 10000% be young adult. In fact; I don’t think this book needed it. It was unnecessary and made so awkward with language. 

My biggest gripe with this book. You have a woman who grew up in a temple. Where women are allowed to take lovers, though it is not recommended. But women *can*. Where Oracles are also healers. But this naive girl doesn’t think about the implications of unprotected sex and what herbs to brew to prevent said implications? Also, why was the herb even with them?! Who just carries around anti-baby herbs when you’re on a mission. 

Ok ok, one last gripe. They are getting down and dirty daily. Mouths is places mouths have no business being while traveling for days on end via horseback with my little access to washing up. They even get back and it’s announced how badly they stink. 🤢 No, just no.