my dog mauled my first copy of this book, the one i read from, before i got the chance to even open the package. as i read the coverless, tattered novel, the pages gradually got more and more hole-ridden and precariously bound with an exponential increase in wear at the end. it ended up perfectly symbolizing my emotions as i read. 

i see some people complaining about the lack of romance, but i really liked the look into young clarion we got. my shayla. my sweet, stubborn, brave girl who is so full of long-suppressed whimsy. and idk. as a famed romance cynic. i really liked the relationship b/w her and milori (who is ALSO my shayla)... it felt believable and had me giggling and smiling n shii... i also was pleasantly surprised by how intense the conflict was (although resolutions felt a tad rushed). the writing was also gorjust. admittedly i was primed to like this book already. and I DID. mwah. <3

i just wish there were like... 50 more pages. i felt like the ending fizzled a little bit, which makes me so sad to say! i wanted a bit more time spent on clarion's decision, a bit more anguish, maybe an epilogue taking place after a few years of separation?