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haliespages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
noreimerreason's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gwynnas's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
A mix between a small quest and criminal investigation story with fast-paced action, dry humor and bone-chilling monsters from Slavic mythology. I felt thoroughly entertained, enjoyed the tension between Kosara and Asen, and was creeped out by the Zmey. And yet, something was missing for me. Maybe it was the bleak world it’s set in that stopped me from loving it or the fact that I’m generally not that interested in witches or detective stories. It is a solid book nevertheless and I’d recommend it if it sounds interesting to you.
kristinecanwrite's review against another edition
5.0
I have been waiting to read Foul Days for months and am so happy and excited I got to read it early, and during the blustery onset of Chicago wintertime. Rushing through freezing, windy streets hit different when I had Chernograd and Kosara to keep me company. Fast-pacing, a vibrant and unique fantasy setting (I loved references to movie stars and telephone operators), and a strong central character make the book sing. I will be recommending this to all the fantasy fans I know in the coming months.
Merged review:
I have been waiting to read Foul Days for months and am so happy and excited I got to read it early, and during the blustery onset of Chicago wintertime. Rushing through freezing, windy streets hit different when I had Chernograd and Kosara to keep me company. Fast-pacing, a vibrant and unique fantasy setting (I loved references to movie stars and telephone operators), and a strong central character make the book sing. I will be recommending this to all the fantasy fans I know in the coming months.
Merged review:
I have been waiting to read Foul Days for months and am so happy and excited I got to read it early, and during the blustery onset of Chicago wintertime. Rushing through freezing, windy streets hit different when I had Chernograd and Kosara to keep me company. Fast-pacing, a vibrant and unique fantasy setting (I loved references to movie stars and telephone operators), and a strong central character make the book sing. I will be recommending this to all the fantasy fans I know in the coming months.
Merged review:
I have been waiting to read Foul Days for months and am so happy and excited I got to read it early, and during the blustery onset of Chicago wintertime. Rushing through freezing, windy streets hit different when I had Chernograd and Kosara to keep me company. Fast-pacing, a vibrant and unique fantasy setting (I loved references to movie stars and telephone operators), and a strong central character make the book sing. I will be recommending this to all the fantasy fans I know in the coming months.
Merged review:
I have been waiting to read Foul Days for months and am so happy and excited I got to read it early, and during the blustery onset of Chicago wintertime. Rushing through freezing, windy streets hit different when I had Chernograd and Kosara to keep me company. Fast-pacing, a vibrant and unique fantasy setting (I loved references to movie stars and telephone operators), and a strong central character make the book sing. I will be recommending this to all the fantasy fans I know in the coming months.
kelleyannelyse's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
viktranka's review against another edition
5.0
I received an advanced copy of the novel for a honest review.
Full of plot twists and surprises, this is the kind of fantasy I enjoy the most.
Pluses:
- fast paced
- full of plot twists, you never know who's friend or foe
- interesting main character with dark past and cynical attitude, but doesn't fall into "overly sassy" stereotype
- a romantic sub-plot that doesn't overwhelm the main plot, it's there, but the main fantasy plot holds the reins
- a love interest who's a gentleman but with dark secrets, doesn't fall into common love interest stereotypes (not overly broody, possessive or toxic), there's more respect than lust between the main couple
- prose that flows fast and doesn't obstruct the story with unnecessary purpleness
- unusual worldbuilding: a city divided by wall that reminds me the post-WW2 Berlin, Balkan food, early 20th century technology - there is electricity and phone but sparsely; Slavic monsters, including the Slavic versions of ghouls, wraiths, werewolves, sirens and the leader of the monsters Zmey I assume is based on the Slavic legend of a Serpent-Dragon (Żmij in my country)
- bits of humor and references to Eastern European immigrant reality
Minuses:
- this is a duology, so while the main plot is resolved, there are several hooks for a sequel present, so if you expect an ending that wraps everything up, you'll have to wait for the sequel
- I wouldn't say this is a minus for me, but the book is fairly short, so if you expect a sweeping epic or a vast side cast you'll be disappointed
Recommended for:
- people who enjoy adult / YA crossover fantasy that isn't romance first
- people who like fast-paced adventure / intrigue fantasy plots that don't halt to admire the scenery for pages
- fans of cynical characters who don't fall into YA stereotypes of "too stupid to live" or "overly smart-a$$"
- people who want to see fantasy worldbuilding inspired by an era / region / culture that isn't overdone to death
Not recommended for:
- people who are looking for fantasy romance or long, winding epic fantasy
23-year-old Kosara is our protagonist. She's cynical and grumpy, and we'll soon understand why. The story starts with a monster attack, which apparently is a normal yearly event where she lives. Then, we find out the villain of the story really wants a piece of her. She also has a ghost of her sister living in her attic and we'll later find out what's the tragic story of her death. Enough to make anyone not very happy with their lives. But that's only a beginning of her problems. Soon, she finds herself scammed out of magical powers, betrayed by friends, lost in a foreign place and consumed by a magical illness. The story starts with a bang and picks up from there. Just as I love it. Sorry, fans of epic fantasy expecting 5 chapters of exposition - that's not for me.
When Kosara finds herself in a pickle, she's forced to work with a detective-policeman Asen. A man with his own agendas that involve catching criminals (officially) and dealing with ghosts of his own past (even though he really doesn't want to admit it). He's tall, muscular and handsome, but he's a complex character with his own goals, motivations and personality - he's not just there for bonus shirtless scenes, if anyone wondered. He's a truly morally grey character who at start seems a typical "by the book" cop, but as we get to know him deeper, we see where he's ready to bend the rules and why, sometimes to his benefit and sometimes to his detriment. But despite playing a "tough guy" and caring about doing his job first, he's always very gentlemanly towards Kosara which serves as a contrast in comparison to her ex, who was possessive, toxic and abusive.
While you can enjoy typical romantic tropes like "one bed" and "hurt / comfort", this book isn't primarily a romance and It's more about two people with traumatic pasts becoming reluctant allies in a world where nobody can be trusted. Not only they keep secrets from one another, but they'll soon find out that even people they thought they could trust have secrets and agendas of their own.
The main plot revolves around Kosara wanting to get her powers back not only because what's a witch without her magic, but also because it literally kills her to not have it - with a magical illness. She also wants to get comeuppance at the villain who's chasing her for the last 7 years and did her a lot of harm. Meanwhile Asen wants to solve a criminal case of smuggling and murder which ends up being deeper than he expected and much more intertwined with Kosara's problems in the end.
I suspect Kosara is coded for ADHD, with the small hints of things like not paying attention during lessons only doodling in her notebook, cramming last minute for her exams, being considered "talented but impatient" and getting frustrated and annoyed with precise work during her apprenticeship at 3 different workshops. It's subtle and very not-in-your-face, so you could always assume she's just "absent-minded" and "hotheaded", but tbh that's why so many of us never get diagnosed. I thought the portrayal of how much it messes with your self-esteem was very faithfully done and I relate to the protagonist a lot.
The book is a quick read with clear prose and a lot of plot twists, some of which I truly didn't expect. There's action in every chapter and there isn't really much "filler content" at all. For me, that's a plus. For someone who expects to take a breather and just explore the worldbuilding or watch gratuitous lengthy romantic scenes - you won't find it here. The side cast is also quite slim, except the protagonists and the villains there are maybe 3 important secondary characters and a few tertiary ones. But I feel for such a short book, a big cast would only be a detriment and make it more confusing.
This book is perfect if you liked YA Fantasy but feel outgrowing it a bit, want something similarly fast paced and main character focused, but hate YA tropes like instalove, cheesy banter, characters making stupid decisions for the sake of a plot twist, overconfident mean girls and cardboard cutout love interests with zero personality except "hot and mysterious". You won't find these here. Everything feels more nuanced, you can get behind characters' decisions because these are grounded in their personality, backstory and the world they live in. The development of the relationship from reluctant allies ready to ditch one another in a whim to felt gradual and natural and justified, none of these "oh we're 90% into the novel, a switch flipped and we hated each other and now we love each other to the death" (I really dislike that trope).
The worldbuilding and the socio-political situation provides a commentary about treatment of immigrants and how Western World perceived people from the Soviet Bloc. Not everyone might get it, but I found the few snippets very clever and poignant.
To sum it up, this novel is a very strong debut in the sphere of adult/YA fantasy crossover, so if you like authors like Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, S.A. Chakraborty, Tasha Suri, Ava Reid, Chelsea Abdullah, Rebecca Ross, Andrea Stewart and so forth - give it a try!
The book isn't gruesome or explicit, so I'd say it's also suitable for teen readers who like YA Fantasy with complex protagonists and low amount of romance, like Little Thieves, The Cruel Prince, Iron Widow or Scavenge the Stars.
Merged review:
I received an advanced copy of the novel for a honest review.
Full of plot twists and surprises, this is the kind of fantasy I enjoy the most.
Pluses:
- fast paced
- full of plot twists, you never know who's friend or foe
- interesting main character with dark past and cynical attitude, but doesn't fall into "overly sassy" stereotype
- a romantic sub-plot that doesn't overwhelm the main plot, it's there, but the main fantasy plot holds the reins
- a love interest who's a gentleman but with dark secrets, doesn't fall into common love interest stereotypes (not overly broody, possessive or toxic), there's more respect than lust between the main couple
- prose that flows fast and doesn't obstruct the story with unnecessary purpleness
- unusual worldbuilding: a city divided by wall that reminds me the post-WW2 Berlin, Balkan food, early 20th century technology - there is electricity and phone but sparsely; Slavic monsters, including the Slavic versions of ghouls, wraiths, werewolves, sirens and the leader of the monsters Zmey I assume is based on the Slavic legend of a Serpent-Dragon (Żmij in my country)
- bits of humor and references to Eastern European immigrant reality
Minuses:
- this is a duology, so while the main plot is resolved, there are several hooks for a sequel present, so if you expect an ending that wraps everything up, you'll have to wait for the sequel
- I wouldn't say this is a minus for me, but the book is fairly short, so if you expect a sweeping epic or a vast side cast you'll be disappointed
Recommended for:
- people who enjoy adult / YA crossover fantasy that isn't romance first
- people who like fast-paced adventure / intrigue fantasy plots that don't halt to admire the scenery for pages
- fans of cynical characters who don't fall into YA stereotypes of "too stupid to live" or "overly smart-a$$"
- people who want to see fantasy worldbuilding inspired by an era / region / culture that isn't overdone to death
Not recommended for:
- people who are looking for fantasy romance or long, winding epic fantasy
23-year-old Kosara is our protagonist. She's cynical and grumpy, and we'll soon understand why. The story starts with a monster attack, which apparently is a normal yearly event where she lives. Then, we find out the villain of the story really wants a piece of her. She also has a ghost of her sister living in her attic and we'll later find out what's the tragic story of her death. Enough to make anyone not very happy with their lives. But that's only a beginning of her problems. Soon, she finds herself scammed out of magical powers, betrayed by friends, lost in a foreign place and consumed by a magical illness. The story starts with a bang and picks up from there. Just as I love it. Sorry, fans of epic fantasy expecting 5 chapters of exposition - that's not for me.
When Kosara finds herself in a pickle, she's forced to work with a detective-policeman Asen. A man with his own agendas that involve catching criminals (officially) and dealing with ghosts of his own past (even though he really doesn't want to admit it). He's tall, muscular and handsome, but he's a complex character with his own goals, motivations and personality - he's not just there for bonus shirtless scenes, if anyone wondered. He's a truly morally grey character who at start seems a typical "by the book" cop, but as we get to know him deeper, we see where he's ready to bend the rules and why, sometimes to his benefit and sometimes to his detriment. But despite playing a "tough guy" and caring about doing his job first, he's always very gentlemanly towards Kosara which serves as a contrast in comparison to her ex, who was possessive, toxic and abusive.
While you can enjoy typical romantic tropes like "one bed" and "hurt / comfort", this book isn't primarily a romance and It's more about two people with traumatic pasts becoming reluctant allies in a world where nobody can be trusted. Not only they keep secrets from one another, but they'll soon find out that even people they thought they could trust have secrets and agendas of their own.
The main plot revolves around Kosara wanting to get her powers back not only because what's a witch without her magic, but also because it literally kills her to not have it - with a magical illness. She also wants to get comeuppance at the villain who's chasing her for the last 7 years and did her a lot of harm. Meanwhile Asen wants to solve a criminal case of smuggling and murder which ends up being deeper than he expected and much more intertwined with Kosara's problems in the end.
I suspect Kosara is coded for ADHD, with the small hints of things like not paying attention during lessons only doodling in her notebook, cramming last minute for her exams, being considered "talented but impatient" and getting frustrated and annoyed with precise work during her apprenticeship at 3 different workshops. It's subtle and very not-in-your-face, so you could always assume she's just "absent-minded" and "hotheaded", but tbh that's why so many of us never get diagnosed. I thought the portrayal of how much it messes with your self-esteem was very faithfully done and I relate to the protagonist a lot.
The book is a quick read with clear prose and a lot of plot twists, some of which I truly didn't expect. There's action in every chapter and there isn't really much "filler content" at all. For me, that's a plus. For someone who expects to take a breather and just explore the worldbuilding or watch gratuitous lengthy romantic scenes - you won't find it here. The side cast is also quite slim, except the protagonists and the villains there are maybe 3 important secondary characters and a few tertiary ones. But I feel for such a short book, a big cast would only be a detriment and make it more confusing.
This book is perfect if you liked YA Fantasy but feel outgrowing it a bit, want something similarly fast paced and main character focused, but hate YA tropes like instalove, cheesy banter, characters making stupid decisions for the sake of a plot twist, overconfident mean girls and cardboard cutout love interests with zero personality except "hot and mysterious". You won't find these here. Everything feels more nuanced, you can get behind characters' decisions because these are grounded in their personality, backstory and the world they live in. The development of the relationship from reluctant allies ready to ditch one another in a whim to felt gradual and natural and justified, none of these "oh we're 90% into the novel, a switch flipped and we hated each other and now we love each other to the death" (I really dislike that trope).
The worldbuilding and the socio-political situation provides a commentary about treatment of immigrants and how Western World perceived people from the Soviet Bloc. Not everyone might get it, but I found the few snippets very clever and poignant.
To sum it up, this novel is a very strong debut in the sphere of adult/YA fantasy crossover, so if you like authors like Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, S.A. Chakraborty, Tasha Suri, Ava Reid, Chelsea Abdullah, Rebecca Ross, Andrea Stewart and so forth - give it a try!
The book isn't gruesome or explicit, so I'd say it's also suitable for teen readers who like YA Fantasy with complex protagonists and low amount of romance, like Little Thieves, The Cruel Prince, Iron Widow or Scavenge the Stars.
Full of plot twists and surprises, this is the kind of fantasy I enjoy the most.
Pluses:
- fast paced
- full of plot twists, you never know who's friend or foe
- interesting main character with dark past and cynical attitude, but doesn't fall into "overly sassy" stereotype
- a romantic sub-plot that doesn't overwhelm the main plot, it's there, but the main fantasy plot holds the reins
- a love interest who's a gentleman but with dark secrets, doesn't fall into common love interest stereotypes (not overly broody, possessive or toxic), there's more respect than lust between the main couple
- prose that flows fast and doesn't obstruct the story with unnecessary purpleness
- unusual worldbuilding: a city divided by wall that reminds me the post-WW2 Berlin, Balkan food, early 20th century technology - there is electricity and phone but sparsely; Slavic monsters, including the Slavic versions of ghouls, wraiths, werewolves, sirens and the leader of the monsters Zmey I assume is based on the Slavic legend of a Serpent-Dragon (Żmij in my country)
- bits of humor and references to Eastern European immigrant reality
Minuses:
- this is a duology, so while the main plot is resolved, there are several hooks for a sequel present, so if you expect an ending that wraps everything up, you'll have to wait for the sequel
- I wouldn't say this is a minus for me, but the book is fairly short, so if you expect a sweeping epic or a vast side cast you'll be disappointed
Recommended for:
- people who enjoy adult / YA crossover fantasy that isn't romance first
- people who like fast-paced adventure / intrigue fantasy plots that don't halt to admire the scenery for pages
- fans of cynical characters who don't fall into YA stereotypes of "too stupid to live" or "overly smart-a$$"
- people who want to see fantasy worldbuilding inspired by an era / region / culture that isn't overdone to death
Not recommended for:
- people who are looking for fantasy romance or long, winding epic fantasy
23-year-old Kosara is our protagonist. She's cynical and grumpy, and we'll soon understand why. The story starts with a monster attack, which apparently is a normal yearly event where she lives. Then, we find out the villain of the story really wants a piece of her. She also has a ghost of her sister living in her attic and we'll later find out what's the tragic story of her death. Enough to make anyone not very happy with their lives. But that's only a beginning of her problems. Soon, she finds herself scammed out of magical powers, betrayed by friends, lost in a foreign place and consumed by a magical illness. The story starts with a bang and picks up from there. Just as I love it. Sorry, fans of epic fantasy expecting 5 chapters of exposition - that's not for me.
When Kosara finds herself in a pickle, she's forced to work with a detective-policeman Asen. A man with his own agendas that involve catching criminals (officially) and dealing with ghosts of his own past (even though he really doesn't want to admit it). He's tall, muscular and handsome, but he's a complex character with his own goals, motivations and personality - he's not just there for bonus shirtless scenes, if anyone wondered. He's a truly morally grey character who at start seems a typical "by the book" cop, but as we get to know him deeper, we see where he's ready to bend the rules and why, sometimes to his benefit and sometimes to his detriment. But despite playing a "tough guy" and caring about doing his job first, he's always very gentlemanly towards Kosara which serves as a contrast in comparison to her ex, who was possessive, toxic and abusive.
While you can enjoy typical romantic tropes like "one bed" and "hurt / comfort", this book isn't primarily a romance and
Spoiler
the romance plot doesn't have a resolution, I guess we have to wait for the sequel to see.The main plot revolves around Kosara wanting to get her powers back not only because what's a witch without her magic, but also because it literally kills her to not have it - with a magical illness. She also wants to get comeuppance at the villain who's chasing her for the last 7 years and did her a lot of harm. Meanwhile Asen wants to solve a criminal case of smuggling and murder which ends up being deeper than he expected and much more intertwined with Kosara's problems in the end.
I suspect Kosara is coded for ADHD, with the small hints of things like not paying attention during lessons only doodling in her notebook, cramming last minute for her exams, being considered "talented but impatient" and getting frustrated and annoyed with precise work during her apprenticeship at 3 different workshops. It's subtle and very not-in-your-face, so you could always assume she's just "absent-minded" and "hotheaded", but tbh that's why so many of us never get diagnosed. I thought the portrayal of how much it messes with your self-esteem was very faithfully done and I relate to the protagonist a lot.
The book is a quick read with clear prose and a lot of plot twists, some of which I truly didn't expect. There's action in every chapter and there isn't really much "filler content" at all. For me, that's a plus. For someone who expects to take a breather and just explore the worldbuilding or watch gratuitous lengthy romantic scenes - you won't find it here. The side cast is also quite slim, except the protagonists and the villains there are maybe 3 important secondary characters and a few tertiary ones. But I feel for such a short book, a big cast would only be a detriment and make it more confusing.
This book is perfect if you liked YA Fantasy but feel outgrowing it a bit, want something similarly fast paced and main character focused, but hate YA tropes like instalove, cheesy banter, characters making stupid decisions for the sake of a plot twist, overconfident mean girls and cardboard cutout love interests with zero personality except "hot and mysterious". You won't find these here. Everything feels more nuanced, you can get behind characters' decisions because these are grounded in their personality, backstory and the world they live in. The development of the relationship from reluctant allies ready to ditch one another in a whim to
Spoiler
relying on one another friends and maybe something more-than-friends in the futureThe worldbuilding and the socio-political situation provides a commentary about treatment of immigrants and how Western World perceived people from the Soviet Bloc. Not everyone might get it, but I found the few snippets very clever and poignant.
To sum it up, this novel is a very strong debut in the sphere of adult/YA fantasy crossover, so if you like authors like Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, S.A. Chakraborty, Tasha Suri, Ava Reid, Chelsea Abdullah, Rebecca Ross, Andrea Stewart and so forth - give it a try!
The book isn't gruesome or explicit, so I'd say it's also suitable for teen readers who like YA Fantasy with complex protagonists and low amount of romance, like Little Thieves, The Cruel Prince, Iron Widow or Scavenge the Stars.
Merged review:
I received an advanced copy of the novel for a honest review.
Full of plot twists and surprises, this is the kind of fantasy I enjoy the most.
Pluses:
- fast paced
- full of plot twists, you never know who's friend or foe
- interesting main character with dark past and cynical attitude, but doesn't fall into "overly sassy" stereotype
- a romantic sub-plot that doesn't overwhelm the main plot, it's there, but the main fantasy plot holds the reins
- a love interest who's a gentleman but with dark secrets, doesn't fall into common love interest stereotypes (not overly broody, possessive or toxic), there's more respect than lust between the main couple
- prose that flows fast and doesn't obstruct the story with unnecessary purpleness
- unusual worldbuilding: a city divided by wall that reminds me the post-WW2 Berlin, Balkan food, early 20th century technology - there is electricity and phone but sparsely; Slavic monsters, including the Slavic versions of ghouls, wraiths, werewolves, sirens and the leader of the monsters Zmey I assume is based on the Slavic legend of a Serpent-Dragon (Żmij in my country)
- bits of humor and references to Eastern European immigrant reality
Minuses:
- this is a duology, so while the main plot is resolved, there are several hooks for a sequel present, so if you expect an ending that wraps everything up, you'll have to wait for the sequel
- I wouldn't say this is a minus for me, but the book is fairly short, so if you expect a sweeping epic or a vast side cast you'll be disappointed
Recommended for:
- people who enjoy adult / YA crossover fantasy that isn't romance first
- people who like fast-paced adventure / intrigue fantasy plots that don't halt to admire the scenery for pages
- fans of cynical characters who don't fall into YA stereotypes of "too stupid to live" or "overly smart-a$$"
- people who want to see fantasy worldbuilding inspired by an era / region / culture that isn't overdone to death
Not recommended for:
- people who are looking for fantasy romance or long, winding epic fantasy
23-year-old Kosara is our protagonist. She's cynical and grumpy, and we'll soon understand why. The story starts with a monster attack, which apparently is a normal yearly event where she lives. Then, we find out the villain of the story really wants a piece of her. She also has a ghost of her sister living in her attic and we'll later find out what's the tragic story of her death. Enough to make anyone not very happy with their lives. But that's only a beginning of her problems. Soon, she finds herself scammed out of magical powers, betrayed by friends, lost in a foreign place and consumed by a magical illness. The story starts with a bang and picks up from there. Just as I love it. Sorry, fans of epic fantasy expecting 5 chapters of exposition - that's not for me.
When Kosara finds herself in a pickle, she's forced to work with a detective-policeman Asen. A man with his own agendas that involve catching criminals (officially) and dealing with ghosts of his own past (even though he really doesn't want to admit it). He's tall, muscular and handsome, but he's a complex character with his own goals, motivations and personality - he's not just there for bonus shirtless scenes, if anyone wondered. He's a truly morally grey character who at start seems a typical "by the book" cop, but as we get to know him deeper, we see where he's ready to bend the rules and why, sometimes to his benefit and sometimes to his detriment. But despite playing a "tough guy" and caring about doing his job first, he's always very gentlemanly towards Kosara which serves as a contrast in comparison to her ex, who was possessive, toxic and abusive.
While you can enjoy typical romantic tropes like "one bed" and "hurt / comfort", this book isn't primarily a romance and
Spoiler
the romance plot doesn't have a resolution, I guess we have to wait for the sequel to see.The main plot revolves around Kosara wanting to get her powers back not only because what's a witch without her magic, but also because it literally kills her to not have it - with a magical illness. She also wants to get comeuppance at the villain who's chasing her for the last 7 years and did her a lot of harm. Meanwhile Asen wants to solve a criminal case of smuggling and murder which ends up being deeper than he expected and much more intertwined with Kosara's problems in the end.
I suspect Kosara is coded for ADHD, with the small hints of things like not paying attention during lessons only doodling in her notebook, cramming last minute for her exams, being considered "talented but impatient" and getting frustrated and annoyed with precise work during her apprenticeship at 3 different workshops. It's subtle and very not-in-your-face, so you could always assume she's just "absent-minded" and "hotheaded", but tbh that's why so many of us never get diagnosed. I thought the portrayal of how much it messes with your self-esteem was very faithfully done and I relate to the protagonist a lot.
The book is a quick read with clear prose and a lot of plot twists, some of which I truly didn't expect. There's action in every chapter and there isn't really much "filler content" at all. For me, that's a plus. For someone who expects to take a breather and just explore the worldbuilding or watch gratuitous lengthy romantic scenes - you won't find it here. The side cast is also quite slim, except the protagonists and the villains there are maybe 3 important secondary characters and a few tertiary ones. But I feel for such a short book, a big cast would only be a detriment and make it more confusing.
This book is perfect if you liked YA Fantasy but feel outgrowing it a bit, want something similarly fast paced and main character focused, but hate YA tropes like instalove, cheesy banter, characters making stupid decisions for the sake of a plot twist, overconfident mean girls and cardboard cutout love interests with zero personality except "hot and mysterious". You won't find these here. Everything feels more nuanced, you can get behind characters' decisions because these are grounded in their personality, backstory and the world they live in. The development of the relationship from reluctant allies ready to ditch one another in a whim to
Spoiler
relying on one another friends and maybe something more-than-friends in the futureThe worldbuilding and the socio-political situation provides a commentary about treatment of immigrants and how Western World perceived people from the Soviet Bloc. Not everyone might get it, but I found the few snippets very clever and poignant.
To sum it up, this novel is a very strong debut in the sphere of adult/YA fantasy crossover, so if you like authors like Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, S.A. Chakraborty, Tasha Suri, Ava Reid, Chelsea Abdullah, Rebecca Ross, Andrea Stewart and so forth - give it a try!
The book isn't gruesome or explicit, so I'd say it's also suitable for teen readers who like YA Fantasy with complex protagonists and low amount of romance, like Little Thieves, The Cruel Prince, Iron Widow or Scavenge the Stars.