I absolutely loved the world, especially the magic system, of this novel. There are so many unique elements that add so much to an otherwise well-crafted Chosen One epic fantasy quest. The uniqueness of the world and its creatures, as well as the complex intricacies of the magic, its rules, and the consequences of its limitations are what kept me spellbound by this story. I was also really surprised by the author’s twist on “fated mates” and “marriages of alliance”, which came with multiple small, but insightful considerations that surprised and intrigued me.
Aeliana and Gaeren were really interesting characters and I was invested in their perspectives quite early on in the story. Their character arcs are also well defined and set out with powerful messages about family and the power of our choices. However, the novel also includes some chapters from Orra’s point of view and I felt this was the main weakness of the story. For one thing, Orra’s perspective gave away some of the big reveals well before either of the other characters figured things out, which detracted from those “aha”- moments. Additionally, there were too few chapters from Orra’s perspective for me to properly be able to get into her head, which ended up just being a distraction from Aeliana and Gaeren. I think a novella just about Orra as a spin off may have been a better choice.
I have high hopes for this author and will definitely be continuing the adventure. Can’t wait to find out what happens next.
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