4.5/5 rounded down!

“It's easy to die for someone," I said, "but it is so much more valuable to live. I do not give you permission to fail if I fail.”

Tisaanah escapes slavedom with the help of her best friend after accidentally killing her master. Injured, she makes it to the Orders, the organization of the worlds most powerful magic wielders in hopes they can help her save her people. In order to gain their help, she must become one of them and is apprenticed to Maxantarius, a reclusive grump who hates the entire organization. Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save her friends, even if it means taking on a level of magic that is impossible for most to wield.

I really enjoyed this one, and while it was not perfect, I can see where it might get there in book two or three. The romance in this one was very evenly paced, which I appreciate, it felt like it happened more organically and not instantaneously. The only issues I had here were not loving the language barrier trope, while it did provide some funny moments between characters, reading it was rough. The other issue was my own expectations, while it was a great read, I went into this expecting something on the same level of Throne of Glass and I should have known better, honestly, but I still went into it with expectations which were admittedly too high. With all that said, I can definitely see where the comparison is valid, and where it could get to that level with progression through the series. It is hard to expect a single book to live up to a seven-book series that might be one of my all-time favorites. I am one hundred percent excited to keep going with this and seeing how it all plays out!