Got an e-arc from netgalley and bindery books in exchange for a honest review. 

The story of Vita's revenge starts slowly, but stick with it—the plot eventually falls into place, and the payoff is worth the wait. 

While the tension is low until the final arc, this slow-burn approach works perfectly for Vita's compelling character development. The protagonist, a passive narrator for much of the story, patiently bides her time, making her eventual growth feel both organic and well-earned.  I'm not that used to reading about this type of passive protagonists, so this was a nice change of pace. 

The central f/f romance is sweet, though it did feel a bit underdeveloped. Vita's allies suffer this same fate but you'll find yourself genuinely rooting for them and hurting with them nonetheless.

In contrast, the antagonist fares better: His cruelty is disturbingly realistic and nuanced, avoiding cartoonish villainy and capturing the multi-faceted nature of abusers. 

This solid antagonist along with the well-crafted worldbuilding is what I think ultimately made the narrative work, it provided a strong foundation for the complex political intrigue and warring factions that drive the latter halves of the plot, making it all feel very grounded.