Enchanting setting. The detail woven into this world is so vibrant and alive. I want to read more here!

That said, the characters lack agency and the ending favours setting up the next book so much it feels more like the first 80% of a great book than a great book on its own. 

Only Serapio truly feels like a main character. The rest of the POVs are unfortunately quite inconsequential. I adore the Teek ways and it was cool to see the military college but neither Okoa nor Xiala (my fave) added much that Serapio couldn't have. With Naranpa you're just waiting and waiting for her to realise how serious her situation is but when she finally takes initiative once, I was flabbergasted to see her

return to the tower after the Maw to just wait to die

! Perhaps Roanhorse could have bit the bullet and given that half of the story to Abah

as a villain point of view with a dramatic ending

. Or omitted it and let Okoa be the eyes in Tova, thrown back in the world of cults and politics after his mother's warning. Hell, he could even be adopted from the Maw to preserve Naranpa's most interesting feature. And the history with Iktan.

I grew attached to Xiala and Serapio. Their emotional beats made up for a pretty simple plot. Xiala is fierce and independent like the protagonist of Roanhorse's earlier book, Trial of Lightning, but much less angsty (to be fair, she is older). 

The writing in general is a step up for the author in my opinion, with many lovely/wise turns of phrase (shockingly often from Xiala). The opening chapter is as tight as could be, absolutely mouth-watering. Hooks your curiosity and your heart in one fell swoop. I hope Saatya gets a prequel! 

I will probably read the sequel if it's a duology (i.e. ending guaranteed) though I resent feeling forced to by this book's lack of ending. There is much else to enjoy besides the ending. Most of all, however, I hope Roanhorse releases another book in this world surrounding different events. The world feels deep enough to support several.