2.5 rounded up

If this was a tv show it would absolutely be the episode where they ‘jumped the shark’. The first half was pretty interesting and had stakes that were understandable and manageable. The second half, though, is extremely muddled. The plot beats are strangely spaced, the stakes remain the same, even as they’re executed. And the ending feels really unearned and contrived. There are enough plot beats and chemistry between certain characters that it was a fun ride, but it isn’t what I would call a well-crafted novel.

However, I think it’d pretty synonymous with male-lead/driven fantasy in the scene now too; just a different power fantasy. I actually think it’s pretty valuable and interesting to read this and have it in conversation with popular fantasy.