can’t say i enjoyed this as much as i thought i would. there was way less fantasy elements than i thought, it was more historical romance which i didn’t mind. also, i don’t think they were truly rivals; we only got some rivalry tendencies in the first few chapters and even then it was mainly workplace bickering. i found their romance sweet at times, slightly stale at others. the ending felt so rushed, with some points barely explained despite being built up

like the chemist creating gas bombs for dacre, or dacre’s power of life debts, which i suppose will be a big part for roman

. i’m hoping they actually start explaining stuff in the next book, but you shouldn’t read a whole book and have hardly any magical backstory explained. not sure if i want to read the sequel either.