The writing of this was by FAR my favourite aspect. The author has a lovely voice! I don't know that I adored any of the cast (sad because I normally just adore female leads who are detectives) but I did really enjoy the setting and the fantasy feel of it at times. The mystery got me. I had no real clue where exactly it was all going the whole time. Legit everyone came off as sketchy (especially Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick) and the whole fantasy element made me a little unsure of where the limits in the world were.

FML I think I somehow like Dani more than Chloe which...I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE! I loved the representation of Dani and everything she stands for and that she grows and adjusts as she experiences new things! The romance was hella cute and I think Zafir actually had more of a voice and character ARC than Redford did. Zaf and Dani are such good contrasts of each other. Such individual personalities but they also come together in a really authentic way. I really appreciate the author taking these two books to give representation to things that are important and impactful on people but don't get tons of rep generally (anxiety in this book and chronic illness in the last one).

Rep: bisexual, anxiety, depression, Black own voice

4.5/5

Okay I really REALLY enjoyed this but I had to take half a star off for the "for fans of Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue" thing I keep seeing because other than both being historical fictions in YA...I don't see it.

The characters were so good. Each scene had a purpose to develop them. The setting was fun as well but Lou really just stole my heart and attention for the whole book. I also gotta props the author for giving me a romance that I rooted for. I didn't roll my eyes for tons of the book or anything. I think it was incredibly smart for the author to have Lou's sister be in a whirlwind romance at the same time off-screen so I could compare it. Lou has this fear of losing herself but it felt more like she grows with her world and circumstances and experiences which happen to bring her to this romance with someone who also adjusts into her.

Also, how dare Indigo not carry this beautiful cover in stores!

*stares off in "why do authors always kill off my favourite character"*
...well guess I should've bought the whole series...

*me finding random books on my GoodReads that I know I reviewed but the review is just gone!*

It's like a Western with werewolves! I don't think this lived up to my love of My Lady Jane but I loved this more than My Plain Jane. I loved all the characters so much! Everything that happened was fun to follow along with--especially all the women stepping up and men being like SHOCKED they are competent humans with skills.

I absolutely LOVED this book! ADORED! The cover and plot had me so hyped up and it did not disappoint! The last half especially was such a wild ride having the dust sickness and everyone's backstories come up while fighting the weird dudes in the desert plus all the gods/daemons involvement! It was busy so I kept guessing who and what was the cause of the dust sickness! I really liked the wrap-up and the relationship development between all the outcasts. I also appreciated it not being super romance heavy because there was definitely the potential for it.

I love this book from start to finish. From the creation of an entire world and their history to the villains and the ending that just flipped everything on its head! The characters were good as well as the conflicts. I find books, where people travel a lot, can be...well boring in long stretches but this book didn't fall into that trap! Super excited to pick up the sequel and praise the cover gods for these new covers!

oh my God I loved this...all of it! The characters and the world and the conflicts and damn everyone is lying and killing people! It was SO GOOD. I'm incredibly impressed with the writing from a debut author as well!

Ahhhh I loved this so much! The banter between Naomi and her future mother in law is some Gilmore Girls quality shit that I thrive on