ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the access to this ebook.

This review is LATE and I'm on my knees begging for forgiveness because this is one of the best YA fantasy books I've ever read.

The depth of the worldbuilding and the situation these young characters are involved with isn't something I expect from the genre anymore. I just expect "vibes," but A.A. Vora went all out. She put THOUGHT into this and built a story that's 100% worth your time if you love fantasy, period. No matter if you're a teen or an adult in your 30s.

In case it wasn't clear, I loved everything about this. I liked the characters, loved the worldbuilding and "magic" (it's not really magic, please read it because I wouldn't do it justice with an explanation), loved the conflict and the way characters reacted to it. Some of it is predictable and I don't love a cliffhanger ending, but that doesn't take away from how much I enjoyed this book.

The fact that this has such a low number of ratings and reviews is CRIMINAL. I blame marketing.

Pick this up if you like:

- GOOD fantasy. Like, actually good fantasy with a system that feels unique.
- Political and religious intrigue.
- Young characters who actually act like people their age and have depth to them.
- Complicated relationships of all kinds.
- Action-packed, emotionally-charged situations.
- Reluctant found family.
- A little sprinkle of slow-burn romance between two male characters. I'm so invested in that, I can't wait for the next book.