I was part of the ARC team for this book. This has not influenced my review.

The story shines through its characters, Sol and Yohan are extremely endearing. It’s a fated mates story, so even though it’s a little insta-lovey it makes sense here. In a nutshell, we follow Sol’s journey to self-acceptance, and his learning to take more space and be comfortable in his own skin. I love Yohan’s gentleness, he gives Sol space to be himself without making him feel guilty about the conflicting feelings and the self-doubt that come with him struggling to announce his trans identity to the world. I loved their conversations, tenderness, and how they validated their emotions. It’s really a story about two people seeking connection and finding it in each other, which I always love.

I liked the character development but the plot moved too fast and was a bit sidelined. I wish we had taken more time to establish Sol’s life in his village before Yohan’s arrival, their mission’s steps and their life after it was completed. I also wanted a little more in terms of worldbuilding. The magic system, with all its possibilities, and the lore sounded fascinating, I loved the glimpses we had but wanted it explored deeper.

It’s great if you’re looking for a character-driven cozy read set in a fantasy world, with low stakes and very high heat 🌶️ especially if you want some trans joy with that!!