knowing this book was ya, i did go into it feeling very skeptical. i had recently finished a (supposedly) dark ya gothic romance that ended up being terribly disappointing and left me quite jaded. it promised me death gods and darkness yet delivered a misty grey at best.

but this book, oh it delivered. not only is it filled with amazing imagery, death lore, and honestly vulnerable themes, but it also gave me an imperfect, angry, selfish main character who i love. that is so rare in ya! ren is not trying to make the world better or be a savior for humanity. no, she wants to find a place where she can belong and the gods help anyone who gets in her way. 

this book is written really beautifully (i mean, who knew you could describe literal darkness in so many ways?) and, while i don't believe this is the intended subgenre, i'm saying good for her.