First off, I'd like to thank Netgalley, Tracy Deonn, and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read and review this book. Even though an egalley was provided to me, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Additionally, I read an advance version of the book, and the text is subject to change in the final version.

This was so good??? Like I'm not necessarily into Arthurian retellings at all (mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the original legend), but damn this book was so good even without that background knowledge.

On that topic, Deonn does a fantastic job introducing readers to lore/stories/history that they might not necessarily know already, whether it be the legend of Arthur or history of Black people in America and their relation to magic in their history. I honestly never felt lost or confused in this book, and that's fantastic considering I don't have a strong background in Arthurian legend or Black history (thanks to the wonderful education system we have in the US :)) ).

On top of that, the story, characters, and world itself are also so well-written and interesting! The story felt so large (in a good way) and impactful, and I felt myself constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens next. So many twists and turns, while I may have guessed them at one point or another, shocked me when they happened anyways, and I sped through the last 40% of this book (which is a feat considering how big this book is AND that I've been having a hard time focusing on reading lately). To make the story even better is a diverse cast of characters that I couldn't help falling in love with. Bree has to be my favorite, from her steady strength throughout the book (in even the face of trouble, grief, and prejudice), though Nick and Sel (a pure sunshine boy and a troubled angry magician) were close seconds. I also loved the support system that Bree had in her father and her best friend, even if she couldn't always be honest and open with them. I seriously cannot wait to see what happens in the later books, even just to see these characters again!

I also really enjoyed the romance! It was much more gripping and intriguing than some of the romances I've read in YA fantasy lately, and I loved how while it was important, it didn't dominate the story or the plot. It was a perfect supporting aspect of the story without becoming the story. I do think we might get a love triangle in later books, though the idea of one doesn't annoy me as much as it usually does in books. Overall, just super curious how this part of the story further develops.

Lastly, the magic system(s) in this book are fantastic. It seems like there's this base of magic running through the world and each culture/group has their own perception of how that magic works, who's allowed to use it, how it should be used, and whether other users of magic are good/bad. It gives the book a bit of learning curve in the sense that readers have to navigate this complex web of magic, filled with different players, concepts, and ideologies, but Deonn explains it in such a manageable way that I didn't struggle with it. Overall, it just made for a fascinating read just based on the system alone, ignoring the characters and actual plot of this book.

Altogether, all these strong aspects only made for even stronger debut, and I can't wait to see what happens next!