For a lot of this book I thought it would be five stars and it didn’t quite reach it, but I still would really recommend. If you’re looking for a slow paced fantasy story that is very much character based, this is one you should add to your TBR.

The positives: it was beautifully written. The writing style that the author has crafted is so heavy with emotion and it’s hard not to be pulled in.

The characters were so complex and realised, and i think it shows how flat other (read: white) authors write Black characters and people of colour.

The atmosphere of danger and being conflicted between your moral duty and your own ambitions was really expertly done.

The negatives: I felt like there was quite a bit of repetition. I understand that the author was trying to show how heavily certain themes weighed on the protagonist’s mind, but by the end it was getting a bit tedious.

Towards the end, I felt like the pacing should have ramped up for the finale. If you’re not completely enveloped and almost racing through it, it might feel a bit stagnant.

Overall I did enjoy it with some small criticisms, but I’m still looking forward to the sequel coming out later this year.