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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Finito! È sicuramente un libro lungo e un po' lento, ma mi è piaciuto davvero molto. Ho amato Kel e Lin, e spero vivamente che nel secondo ci siano anche altri pov (*cough cough* Conor). Al momento ho tantissime domande e zero risposte ma non vedo l'ora di leggere il secondo - anche perché ho sentito solo ottimi pareri e sono curiosissima👀
I have been in this world so long, I don’t know how I will move on from it. This was a really good fantasy. I cannot wait for the next book.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
if there’s one thing about cassandra clare it’s she will be DESCRIBING
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book like crazy, amazing read.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve never experienced a book more desperately in need of a polycule than this…and I believe Cassie could pull it off! My soft spot for Cassandra Clare makes me forgive her for many of the plot and world building errors here. It’s hard to make the jump from YA to adult. It’s hard to escape the world you’ve been exclusively writing in for almost 20 years. There is so much going on to lay the foundation that Cassie’s character work (where she has always shined) falls flat a bit. I will read the next one but there BETTER be more yearning.
This was exactly what I expected it to be — entertaining. That’s the word I kept hearing in reviews, and it really does fit. I found myself wanting to get back to the book every chance I had, which hasn’t happened in a while. Even though not much happens — it’s clearly a setup book — the pacing pulled me in, and I enjoyed the read.
There’s a strong sense of worldbuilding here. It’s not perfect, but there’s real effort behind it. The different cultures are obviously inspired by real-world nations, and while there isn’t much in the way of distinct histories, the setting still feels layered. The magic system is barely introduced, but that seems intentional — like something being saved for later in the series.
The structure was interesting. We follow Kel and Lin in third person, while Prince Conor, despite being central, isn’t given a POV. Instead, we see him entirely through their perspectives. That created some nice tension and let the narrative stay grounded in the experiences of two very different people.
What didn’t work as well for me was the Sarthe situation. If ambassadors exist in this world — and we’re told they do — then diplomacy should be a two-way street. The political move that Sarthe pulls off wouldn’t have worked if Castellane had someone on the other side doing their job. And if they didn’t, I’d have liked some acknowledgment of that. The book also deals heavily with nobility and court intrigue, but the broader political structure is vague — I wanted more clarity there.
The writing was smooth and engaging, and while this is marketed as adult fantasy, it still carried the tone and tropes I remember from Clare’s earlier work — found family, loyalty, secret mansions for training. I haven’t read her books in over a decade, back when they were at their peak popularity, so I’m not sure how her writing has evolved or shifted since. But this didn’t quite feel like a departure into adult fantasy, at least not in terms of emotional depth or maturity. Moments of intimacy are implied, but the overall vibe remains more YA than adult.
That said, I genuinely enjoyed this. The book makes you feel like you know the main characters well, while still leaving room for future development. It’s a strong foundation for a series, and I’m already planning to pick up the next one. Hopefully it’ll bring more plot momentum and a deeper look into the magic, politics, and mysteries that were only hinted at here.
There’s a strong sense of worldbuilding here. It’s not perfect, but there’s real effort behind it. The different cultures are obviously inspired by real-world nations, and while there isn’t much in the way of distinct histories, the setting still feels layered. The magic system is barely introduced, but that seems intentional — like something being saved for later in the series.
The structure was interesting. We follow Kel and Lin in third person, while Prince Conor, despite being central, isn’t given a POV. Instead, we see him entirely through their perspectives. That created some nice tension and let the narrative stay grounded in the experiences of two very different people.
What didn’t work as well for me was the Sarthe situation. If ambassadors exist in this world — and we’re told they do — then diplomacy should be a two-way street. The political move that Sarthe pulls off wouldn’t have worked if Castellane had someone on the other side doing their job. And if they didn’t, I’d have liked some acknowledgment of that. The book also deals heavily with nobility and court intrigue, but the broader political structure is vague — I wanted more clarity there.
The writing was smooth and engaging, and while this is marketed as adult fantasy, it still carried the tone and tropes I remember from Clare’s earlier work — found family, loyalty, secret mansions for training. I haven’t read her books in over a decade, back when they were at their peak popularity, so I’m not sure how her writing has evolved or shifted since. But this didn’t quite feel like a departure into adult fantasy, at least not in terms of emotional depth or maturity. Moments of intimacy are implied, but the overall vibe remains more YA than adult.
That said, I genuinely enjoyed this. The book makes you feel like you know the main characters well, while still leaving room for future development. It’s a strong foundation for a series, and I’m already planning to pick up the next one. Hopefully it’ll bring more plot momentum and a deeper look into the magic, politics, and mysteries that were only hinted at here.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes