3 Stars

This was a fun read, albeit not the most well-paced one. It starts off strong, dropping you right into a world of magic and warring factions, with a headstrong heroine, and a promising chemistry with the brooding love interest. I really enjoyed the cast and most of the secondary characters (especially the Cloaks). The first part of the book sets up a really great premise.

The middle of the book, unfortunately didn’t have 
a payoff that was as rewarding as it could have been (although I wouldn’t say it was <i>bad</i> necessarily). The pacing starts slogging a bit (even as the heat and the steaminess pick up). Things move so slowly, and despite the stakes being supposedly high, it didn’t feel like it, and felt boring at times. Some twists are introduced, which feel out of place and don’t have the “shock factor” you’re hoping for with major reveals. Also, a personal pet peeve, I hate most love interest nicknames in romance and romantasy novels, and this book was no exception, spitfire - while cute at first, got old REAL FAST.

We get a long lead up to an action-packed climax & conclusion that felt confusing and a bit messy, where twists are revealed, and stakes are high, and dramatics are had, but it felt rushed and confusing, so things didn’t land with the emotional impact they could have had, especially with the drawn out middle of the book. 

Ultimately, the read was fun and I really enjoyed the promise the ending delivered. I definitely do plan to read the next one, as - although not necessarily the most well constructed book, it was a fun fantasy with some great secondary characters (plus an ADORABLE dog!!)

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher, in exhale for my honest feedback