Buddy read with Jayati & Haley! ❤

That is the problem with stories, child. The truth in them cannot be weighed.

I love the premise and in theory all the aspects (dragons, magic, powerful women, court scenes, religious and political conflict) are terrific. But with the constant POV switching I had trouble getting invested in any of the characters; there were just so many place and character names that I couldn't keep track of them all.

I had no idea who, if anyone, I was rooting for, and without that emotional engagement — and since I also had some difficulty with the writing style — it was kind of a slog to make to to the end. And by the time I got there, I realized that some developments really disappointed me, such as multiple instances of the

Spoiler

fury-and-vengeance-of-a-woman-scorned

trope, and the general progression of the Big Bad Battle.

Overall, I can see why others might enjoy this book so much, but it just wasn't for me.

content warnings:

Spoiler

[mentioned] alcoholic abusive parent, parent death, on-page murder, secondary & major character death(s), suicidal ideation, blood magic (cutting), incest-adjacent relationship (adoptive mother & son), mutilation (loss of a limb)

rep:

Spoiler

M/M relationship (one partner is deceased but referenced throughout), MLM MC, F/F relationship, WLW MCs, MC with depression