*2.5 stars*

This book was a BIG let down for me. It promised big things, I know (Six of Crows meets the Cruel Prince), so I shouldn't have expected so much out of it. Theoretically, this book SHOULD'VE been about a big heist. This book did not really center around a "heist" - it was rather like a big scavenger hunt. Not much intrigue either. This was also promised to have a big LGBTQ+ romance . . . but that didn't happen until the VERY end of the book. And even WORSE, the first three-quarters of the book were BORING. I dragged myself kicking and screaming to the end because if FAIRYLOOT put it in their book box, then it HAS to be good (at least, that's what I told myself)!

All of the characters lacked the . . . characterization? I mean, I could tell the difference between POVs and see some of their arcs, but I felt like they all needed more umph, if you know what I mean. World-building was okay - I felt like the authors could've been more creative in the names of locations. Many of them were too literal and I felt that they didn't belong in a FANTASY book.

Sinister sorcery, gallows humor, and fae were a 1,000% though! DEFINITELY some evil sorcerers and fae. LOVED Rags' humor though!!!