This is one of the best debut novels I have ever read! El-Arifi has blown me away with how masterfully she crafted this world. The world building is layered and vivid. There is blue sand! How cool is that? The characters are so well developed, flawed, and have fantastic arcs. The plot was so intriguing, with a slow-burn romance, a (kind of) love triangle that I actually did not mind, and lots of action. I really appreciated the depiction of drug addiction and how it affects not only the user but those around them. I thought it was very realistic. The blood magic (and colors) was very interesting, and I loved how it tied into the class system in the world. El-Arifi used this to explore the themes of power and politics very well. I loved how the author tied in mythological aspects and themes and used them to expand her world and the characters. 

I cannot recommend this enough, and I need book two immediately because that ending was EPIC. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.