A review by gperna01
A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth

5.0

I typically do not review books that are not ARCs or betas because I am not necessarily the most eloquent with my words. I know I am a terrible writer okay and unless I am forced to write a review I will not but damn this book had me in its clutches. I am not sure I will ever stop thinking about it. The first book was good... but this was fantastic. It was slow moving at first and I think she could have cut 100 pages of nonsense but I get why she did not as there are two more books to come. THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE OMFG I wish I knew more people who have read this to chat about it because damn the intricacy of this book is beyond words. Ashley is amazing and I have never felt so represented in a book. If you are apart of the LGBTQIA+ community please please read this. It is the most represented I have ever felt as a gay person and it makes me want to cry because it is so hard to find in fantasy books. Along with that the plots and the POVs are so good and I know there are holes that are made on purpose to really bring it together in the end but I feel that this is SJM level Easter egg writing and I am obsessed. It is a must read for people who want a SJM book with more politics, more secrets, more villains, more Gods and actually LGBTQIA+ representation.