I enjoyed this epic fantasy read, which blends historical technology with a very interesting level of court intrigue that comes close to the depth of George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. Similar to Martin's work, Noble focuses on a large cast of characters and explores the unfolding events from different perspectives to offer a deeper understanding of the expansive puzzle.
I really enjoyed the very unique magic system of this story. A lot of thought has gone into it and it's well-structured with solid limitations that have unusual consequences depending on which type of magic the wielder has access to. Additionally, there are slight inflections of a more scientific mindset through the members of the crimson court who run tests to further their purposes and also with the university. I've rarely seen an epic fantasy world like this one that also incorporates science and scientific methods, which definitely makes this stand out in terms of the worldbuilding and added a lot to the magic system.
The characters were a good collection of individuals. I connected with most of them really quickly and was invested in their wants and desires from quite early on, especially with Kasia who's really put through the wringer. She's certainly a character I'd like to revisit in future as I'm curious to know what happens to her next, not to mention finding out how her allies are going to overthrow the crimson court!
Although it took me a little while to get into the story and also despite my general dislike of stories with lots of characters and switching perspectives, I'm glad I stuck with this novel and I look forward to exploring book 2 when it releases next year.
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