literaryhaunt's Reviews (647)

The first half of this felt like I was wading through it, I thought about DNFing but am glad I didn't. It took some time for the plot to find its footing, and I found myself a bit lost in the myriad of characters and subplots to be honest. However, once I hit the halfway mark, things started to pick up and I found myself more engaged with Luzia’s journey and more connected to the characters.

Luzia Cotado, the scullion with a knack for little miracles, is an interesting protagonist. Her rise from a life of drudgery to catching the eye of powerful figures like Antonio Pérez is filled with twists and turns. The world Bardugo creates is a fascinating blend of magic, science, and deception, and it was exciting to see how Luzia navigated treachery over and over.

One of the standout aspects for me was the historical setting. Bardugo does an excellent job of bringing the Spanish Golden Age to life and the threat of the Inquisition adds a palpable tension throughout the story that the book definitely benefits from. However, the plot felt a bit all over the place at times. By the time everything started to come together, I was still trying to piece together earlier events and connections. Despite this, the character development and the eventual plot resolution were satisfying and I came to love this book.