My favourite part about this book was its design and feel. Honestly, it made me slow down and want to prolong the reading of it because it just felt and looked so nice. 

The story itself is a typical YA retelling of mythology where there is very little accuracy in historical tone and a lot of modern sensibilities liberally slathered throughout. This was fine for me because I knew what I was getting into. 

I love that Eirene is not the typical willowy, beautiful heroine. She is small but stocky and stubborn and resourceful. Her sole purpose in life has been protecting her sickly, but beautiful sister Phoebe from the evil men abounding, including the dastardly Leandros, who peddles the drug Desire, which has been enslaving the young girls on the island one by one to unsavoury husbands. His eye is set on Phoebe after his young wife, Alexandra, is found murdered and drained of blood in his own house. 

The beginning chase scene ending with Alexandra's demise sets a bit of a bar for the rest of the book. I would say it was mostly upheld. Lots of mystery and thrilling scenes that had me racing through. 

The thing that rankled, as with many current mythology retellings and other historical fiction with magic as a theme was the extreme man-bashing. I mean not one single male was a decent human being. Even Eirene's friend the apothecary's assistant has selfish motivations. Not only is this not realistic but it's getting very tiring to read the same themes again and again.

As a woman and a mother of a teenage daughter, I'm a bit concerned about what stories like these are reinforcing in our young women. Strength and independence, yes. But that every man is out to get you or get something from you?