The review will probably come at some point. Right now I'm crying inside, wanting to hug Aurelia and Teddy and being thankful for having discovered this book.

✨✨✨✨ chaotic review ✨✨✨✨

This book is like a fanfic — and that is not a bad thing. However, if you go into it expecting urban fantasy or dark academia, you'll be definitely disappointed.

Why do I say that it's a fanfic? Because the plot itself it's not that important (it could have been, it looked SO promising); everything is an excuse or context to the relationship of Aurelia and Teddy.

The description of the magic is quite confusing and there are many loose ends, potential secondary stories that get ignored. But THE ANGST, the SLOW BURN, the description of the little gestures and interactions *chef kiss*

The pacing is... odd. It feels a bit like Harry Potter 7.1: a lot of action at the beginning, then a looooong middle part where nothing happens and it's like that death threat doesn't even exist, and then a get a lot of action that gets solved so quickly and without much explanation. Regarding the fantasy/adventure plot the reader is left with a "that's it?" — and a lot of ~vibes~. I don't like that but I think VE Schwab readers could like it. The writing style is similar, metaphoric, poetical, etc. Basically: ~VIBES~

But again. The slow burn. It kept me reading. The unlikely-allies-to-friends-to-lovers and then THE END