I was a bit struggling at the beginning because there was a constant tonal shift between dark and childish, as if the author couldn't decide if she writes for the adult audience or the younger readers. But when the competition starts and we leave the school behind, it actually gets really interesting, fun and much more tonally coherent. I got hooked to the characters, their complicated motivations, the questioning loyalties, and the differing persectives on rebelion and change, which made me interested in seeing how their stories will play out. I'm only not biggest fan of love triangles, but the whole enemies-to-lovers was nicely done (though, for my taste, it happened too fast, I would've been ready for a much slower of the slow burns, but I have a feeling like the current maninstream readers demands it happens in first book. But I'm all here for sapphic yearning.)

In the end, I really liked the intricate worldbuilding, the great spin on blood magic, the epic scope which makes it all the more dramatic, but mostly, the fun and loveable characters. I immediately started the second book to see where it goes next.