This was sure a wild ride, and I still can’t decide whether I’ve ended up more confused or entertained. I definitely enjoyed the rich, inventive, exotic setting. It’s packed with great ideas, and this specific brand of undead assassins with their erased memories, laws, and rules immediately intrigues me. I think I’d actually love to read something else set in this universe, preferably something a tad slower pace, 100+ pages longer, and with more focus on exploring the ecosystem of Tal Abisi as a whole.

Other things I enjoyed include the whole wild “we’re bringing a version of you from the past and hiring you to kill her“ premise, and the even bigger mindfuck it eventually turned to. Some of the ways the author used modern slang, like “edgelords,” was really fun. I really loved how the setting’s folklore was used to both expand the worldbuilding and affect the unfolding story. The characters for the most part were really fun, though with the exception of Eveen and Sky, most of them were made memorable by their places in the plot and cool powers rather than personalities. The cast really ended up too large for a story this short. Actually, *everything* was too large for a story this short, come to think of it. Which, despite all the coolness packed here, led to a general feeling of overwhelm for me. Plus, I think there are some structural issues here, with new stuff constantly getting thrown in even as the plot was winding down. Again: overwhelming.

All in all, it’s been a fun bedtime story for several nights. The audiobook is good quality, the chase and battle scenes are all really exciting, and the setting is simply awesome. Perhaps it’s just that I prefer stories that are less rushed and leave more room for character development.