I never thought I would be reading a fantasy mafia story, but here we are. In all seriousness though, the setting here is really unique and well-realised. Fonda Lee's writing perfectly encapsulates the brutal, but also beautiful world. Almost everyone compares this series with the Godfather and it's not hard to see why. The clan system is really cool and unlike anything in the fantasy genre. The themes of honour, family and loyalty are also really remisnicent of the Godfather.

However the main focus of this book are definitely the characters who are all really well-written and nuanced. The Kaul family and their dynamics are really intriguing. The plot is still a major part of the book, but it really only comes into play in the second half. The first half which focuses more on the characters and the worldbuilding was really excellent. I never thought reading about the day-to-day lives of some characters would be so enthralling—but it was.

The plot really speeds up about halfway into the book, and Fonda Lee writes some great action scenes with a mix of martial arts and magic. The magic system, primarily based on Jade, is actually a more minor element in this book, but in the few moments that it gets to shine, it's really fascinating.

So yeah, a great start to this series with a unique setting and magic system and compelling characters. Can't wait to read the next two books—I've heard that the series only gets better and better!