I didn't see the page count until I had already started this book and I certainly was not expecting this to be 1000 pages of fascinating political schemes and compelling worldbuilding. And also there's a lot of sex but this is very much an epic fantasy that has made sex work a cornerstone of the plot, not erotica that has political elements.

This book is dark and incredibly disturbing at times, but I love a good fucked up book when I'm in a certain mood and I ate this up. The main character is put through the wringer in every way possible, raised to be an exquisite composite of sex worker and spy, thrown into hellish situation after hellish situation, and breaking a little each time, but still pushing on. Though our situations are nothing alike I can relate deeply to repeatedly being pushed beyond what you thought you could endure, and scraping together the wherewithal to endure it anyway. 

I read this book in two days. It grabbed me from page one and kept my attention unfailingly to the very end. I almost felt it took too many chapters to wrap up, but if it had ended sooner, it would not have felt satisfying, nor set up the future books as neatly. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next three books, and watching Carey continue to spin this tale of horrible intrigue and heartbreaking personal loyalty.