This was one of my most anticipated releases back in 2022, and yet, as these things tend to go, I'm only just now getting to it. I don't think it was a bad thing to have waited this long, though, and I ended up still really enjoying it. Admittedly, it did take me a bit to get into the story. While I was intrigued by the set-up and by Ranka as a character, I found myself just liking the book and not being super invested necessarily. However, by around 60% of the book, this completely changed, and I found myself loving it, loving Ranka, and feeling for her as she went through the rather traumatic events of the book.

In the end, this connection to the characters and their growth is what made me enjoy the book as much as I did. The plot itself is rather straightforward, though it has some twists and turns. However, what ended up mattering more was how Ranka herself experienced the plot, as someone who isn’t necessarily the most clever of characters. These twists then seemed to take on a different form, as their effect on me as a reader was more based on how they affected Ranka instead of how brilliant a plot twist it was. Overall, this story of growth and watching Ranka learn to pick herself first and become something more than the weapon/tool she was made to be was one I loved. I can’t wait to see what else Mix writes in the future!