I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a very fun ride. It dragged here and there, but made up for it with the interesting lore and actioned scenes. I felt like the magic system needed some work as Sebastian's powers were not very defined, especially when compared to Marzanna and her Riders. There was something there that felt very concrete and had me disappointed and wishy-washiness of elemental magic. However, the idea that using magic ages you is interesting though it was glossed over and not used to its fullest potential.

There was also a lack of direction for the first half of the story. It spent no time solidifying why Sonya and Sebastian had their stances, as they practically had them from the beginning and spent more time engraving them into their roles. The siblings started separate and were slightly more separate by then, making it feel like there were little to no emotional stakes in the book and that the siblings were just doing whatever for some arbitrary notion they had and never questioned it.

What Sebastian lacked in motivation, his sister Sonya did manage to make up. While it still felt like she was there "just because", she also had the most interesting growth as she becomes more and more ranger. I wished there'd been more focus on the rangers as they were by far the most interesting thing in the book. It was clear that a lot of time was spent on their lore and impact in the world and I wish there had been as much time spent on the characters and their motivations, as while Sonya makes a nice ranger, I'm left questioning why she is one in the first place as at times she seems to be the last person I'd expect to be one as her personality seems so contrary to a lot of the legends. This could be why she makes such a good ranger though it didn't come across clearly in the text. She did serve as a sympathetic lens to view the interesting culture of the rangers and their cold-hearted goddess fo death.

Sebastian is an interesting case of someone wanting to do good and becoming a monster in the process. He does seem to lack some conviction however and I found myself inclined to think that he was a bigger fan of the books Galina was reading than Galina herself at times. Galina, on the other hand, was a major surprise as she went from being a background character to the character with the most conviction. Unlike the siblings I can tell you where and why she stands on the side of the split that she does without saying "just because she's there". Her motivations and role in the story were well thought out and executed.

My final thoughts are that despite the character flaws, this book is amazing. It has an interesting fantasy world with distinct cultures and traditions as well as interesting histories and war tactics. The final battle was a pure joy to read and I have nothing against the writing. The book feels a bit like a set-up for something bigger and I'm all ears for something bigger, especially if there will be more involvement from Marzanna. It was really easy to get lost in the lore and I had vivid pictures in my mind as I read, mostly on the bus and surrounded by blizzards, which may have helped a bit. But all that being said I would recommend this to fantasy nerds who love strong mythologies or those who are looking for something similar, and maybe a bit more sinister, to being a huntress of Artemis.

This was fast-paced and enjoyable, but it lacked a certain depth and explanation of the story. It was over way too quickly with too little explanation. The whole time I wasn't really sure who I was rooting for or what I was rooting for or why other than the avoidance of the end of the world. this is one of the few times where I think the adaptation is better, as in the Netflix show I was able to connect with the characters and some of their feeling and emotions. Unlike here where The Umbrella Academy has very little to no emotional development or personality away from Spaceboy who is "the leader". The Monkey showed more emotions in a diary except than most of the other characters did in the whole comic. It makes for a fun, quick-paced read, but I don't think it's a well-developed story that will keep anyone hooked on anything but the action and the seeming randomness of it all. I would really recommend that someone read this is they're a fan of the show unless they're looking for quick entertainment as it really does not add anything.

I received a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is amazing, and better yet, has an open ending, so it works as a standalone.

This reminded me of the Girshaverse in a very good way. It had the same feel and a lot of elements that I loved in those stories and I enjoyed seeing them redone and reimagined in here.

The world was immersive and interesting. It felt real. I loved all the different perspectives and characters as well as the magic system. Even though it was a soft magic system, it was used well and I found it unique. All the characters were distinct and individual. They had different voices, motivations, and goals. It was great seeing them all come together for the end. It was spectacular.

I also enjoyed many of the concepts in this book from the Fight Pits to the King's Children. It made the role feel so rich and well-developed. It also helped with making the character feel unique and original, as they were all on different sides with similar goals.

I found the foreshadowing was carried out very well too. There was enough that I could guess what might happen, but I never felt like anything was hitting me over the head with obviousness and it made some of the twists very fun to read as even though I was clued in, iI still felt as shocked as the protagonist as she realized what was happening. That hasn't happened in a long while and it was amazing.

The romance was not all-consuming. It was there, in the shadows, but it stayed there and let the politics, magic, and rebellion shine. And they shone brightly for it.

This book had the right levels of everything. The recipe for the perfect fantasy novel. And it was executed perfectly.

I honestly can't do much more than gush over this because I loved it so much and I highly recommend anyone who reads this review to pick it up.

My friend just informed me about this on the train this morning and it's so good. SHort, but incredibly enjoyable. I was really surprised, to be honest, and I had no idea what to expect but I absolutely enjoyed every page. A great little short that's very faithful to the original and so much fun to read.

It's an enjoyable book. not amazing, but it is well-written and interesting for the most part. there were a few perspectives I didn't care for. Would recommend this.