This was a uniquely captivating story with a fascinating magic system. Meda is a misunderstood and very neurodivergent witch in a land where magic is scarce. Everything is protected from the fae outside by a massive magical shield. All remaining magic comes from those with distant fae relatives- witches. Except for Kalcedon, the prickly half-fae that works with Meda. 

The magic system is truly unique! Magic is referred to in terms of heat. Those with high amounts of magic are hot, but using magic makes you cool. If you run cold, you die. And magic is (mostly) performed with hand movements (much like weaving) and sigils. Scrying is an accepted form of magic among witches. Magic has a language. It’s all so different from anything I’ve read before. 

The plot was good, but felt rushed towards the end. I felt like the end could have gone slower- I wanted to know so much more about everything. I enjoyed the three main characters so much. Meda’s neurodivergence is the cause of so much miscommunication, but “miscommunication trope” isn’t typical. The author does an excellent job of portraying Meda’s autism, especially how she thinks. The romance was so sweet. Oraik was wonderfully naïve. Kalcedon was so complex. 

Overall, this was absolutely wonderful. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about it when I had to put the book down. I would be at work trying to riddle out what would happen next since I couldn’t read. My biggest issue is the rushed ending.