UPDATE: 04/06/2021
i will not be deleting my previous review, but i will indeed be updating my rating and discussing what has transpired as of recent. i feel it is important to talk on these issues and realize that you may have had an opinion one day that changed over to the next, and that is alright.

this author is .. quite awful, to say the least. they have had patterns on patterns of disgusting behaviour, that was brought to everyone's attention by the involved parties, but it was somehow brushed under the rug. i remember hearing about some of these scandals on and off, but nothing ever coming of it, bc the author has a way of denying things, gaslighting people, and laughing shit off. they also have a very tight knit group of author friends around them who bats at their plate every time something goes down.

*RECAP* for those who dont know and somehow see this review: emily duncan has a history of racism, ignoring and belitting authoes and readers of colour (especially AsianAm authors/readers, which is incredibly distasteful, and shines a light on cutrent times and how little they've changed), as well as harmful content in their story that went unnoticed on my part, sadly, and i apologize for not picking it up.

they have lashed out at authors of colour, ignored criticism and tips on how to be better, and laugh in the faces of those who call them out.

this author has also been called out for their anti-semitism that can be decoded within their book; the neopagan religion the magic system is built off of that heavily promotes nationalism within the eastern European countries, especially Poland and Russia, where the anti-semitic rhetoric is abhorrently clear in current and past times. the fact that the vultures, of which malachiasz is apart of, is described using harmful stereotypes attached to jewish folk (using blood magic = blood libel/sacrifice, descriptors of physical appearance, controlling the government or monarchy). honestly, seeing that lens is so disgusting in retrospect now, because i most definitely remember that in this book, and in the second one.

there is so much to go over here, I didn't touch on the insensitive and downright abusive treatment of AsianAm authors and readers who have had to interact with this author... god, please search emily duncan on twitter and find rin chupeco's thread.. but all in all, will not be reading from this author ever again


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i really struggled to rate this wth,,, anyway like a good 4.25? around there. this is gothic and not too complex, but also a very lush fantasy world - which is exactly how i like my fantasies, truthfully.

what can i say? tortured, doubtful, and confusing morally inept characters are my shit, and all three of our main characters are exactly that. and shockingly? i truly loved them all, as well as the side characters, which is so strange.

anyway, i do get the polarizing feelings and i do feel them as well, especially in the second half of the story. i felt that the interest of the summary given dissipated and the plot morphed into something harder to understand, but getting over that stint and making it to the end was worth it, in my opinion.

nadya's inner turmoil could get repetitive, and i think that was some of my own bias bleeding in, mixing into annoyance for her character development but well- it was good, i have to say. she melds into a very interesting character, yet i felt her development was stunted, and could've been fleshed out further even. maybe book two will give me that. hopefully.

then there's serefin, the literal love of my life. he was so interesting in his struggles. a general and prince so emphatic towards a war he'd fought so hard for, and it was so tragic to watch him deal with that internally. also externally, he was a huge complainer, and i adored it. but i would like to hear more of his character prior to the book's development? like, he felt very present, and though i could see the struggles of his past haunting, i didn't see them all that consequential as i barely had any information of it. yeah, would like more from that, and more about jim at the end? HUH? WHAT WAS THAT?? i'm confused but... bisexual icon? sure. gimme more of that in book two, thanks.

finally... the most interesting charavter in my wholehearted opinion, malachiasz. i finally know how to say his name, bless. but yeah, he was truly the most intriguing? confusing? monstrous? absolutely amazing character and i would Love to see so much more about his internal relationship with himself. his story was hurtful right up to the end, and i still hate myself for getting so attached as i knew i'd be upset by the end. please. PLEASE, the way i love his characterization? impossibly large. yeah, love that for me.

it was entertaining and fast-paced to read, got me on my toes terrified for the fates of the characters. there's representation i wish was more explored, such at the characters of parijahan and rashid- GIMME MORE PLEASE, i maybe love parijahan too much already i need more from her. and i'm pretty sure there's sexual orientation diversity? with serefin and ostiya, who i think is a lesbian? a flirtatious, murdering queen. but tbh are any of these characters straight? that's the true question

content warnings/TW: self-harm (magic purposes, past self-harm), parental abuse, violence, body horror (kinda), war themes .