*Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for the audiobook copy

I really wanted to like this book. I did not reread the synopsis before going into it, which I feel was a mistake. I expected magic and more fantasy elements that were not there. Which is more on me than the book, but I feel like that contributed to my overall feelings.

The choices that Ododo made throughout the story, especially in regards to the people she blindly trusted kind of floored me, and after people showed their true colors she didn't really seem to learn from the past and protect herself, which frustrated me. I was practically yelling at her at some points because she was being so naive. And for what happens towards the end of the book, I just wish there had been more gradual nods to the character development throughout the story. I feel like this would have made me root for her more.

The imagery of this story was beautiful, and I really felt like I could picture all of the settings.  I also loved the narrator, she had such a lovely voice to listen to and did well with the pacing. I felt like the second half of the book I was more engaged in than the first half, and the end of the book was relatively satisfying. I would give this author another try at some point.