This was my first time reading this author, and I absolutely loved this YA gothic fantasy! I listened to the audiobook, which features multiple narrators, and I thought they did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. I especially enjoyed the different voices they performed for the characters. It made the listening experience even more immersive.

As far as content goes, there was very, very mild language, maybe two curse words, and no spice, just a couple of kissing scenes. In fact, there is hardly any romance in this story, which left me a little confused as to why it’s categorized as a romantasy. There were some cute moments of banter and flirting, but the romance was definitely not the main focus, which I actually appreciated. I liked that it remained a subplot rather than taking over the story. Maybe the next installment will explore the romantic relationships more, but in this first book, the romance was very light.

One of my favorite things about this book was the beautiful writing and incredible worldbuilding. I absolutely loved all the little details and descriptions that brought this magical world to life. The atmosphere was wonderfully immersive, with just the right amount of darkness, eeriness, and mystery. It’s dark, but not too dark.

You can definitely tell this was written for a young adult audience, although part of me wonders if it would’ve worked even better as an adult fantasy. I think the author could’ve gone a little darker and explored the world, its history, and the characters on a deeper level. There was so much potential to dig into!

Speaking of the characters, I really enjoyed all of them! Thankfully, they weren’t the typical annoying teenagers we sometimes get in YA fantasy. I found them all likable and genuinely enjoyed spending time with them. However, I would’ve loved to get to know Veri and Reeve better. Since they’re our main characters, I felt like we only scratched the surface of who they really are. I wanted to get inside their heads, understand their motivations, and discover what made them tick. I’m hoping we’ll get more character development in the sequel because I’m definitely invested in their stories.

Another element I absolutely loved was the found family. Veri lives with Winter and her mom, and there’s this adorable scene where Soren and his little sister, Jessie, come over for game night. I loved this so much! We rarely get to see something as simple and wholesome as a family game night in books, especially in fantasy stories. It was such a sweet moment that made the characters and their relationships feel more real.

Then we have Reeve and his group of Reaper friends, including Jonas, his adorable bunny Walnut, Sage, and Arden. I have such a soft spot for a group of ragtag misfits who become their own little family, so I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

However, there were a couple of character choices that didn’t quite work for me. Two of the side characters are queer, one gay and one bisexual, and I felt those details were included without much meaningful development. Since we don’t really get to know these characters or explore their backstories, these aspects of their identities felt somewhat forced rather than naturally woven into the story. I would’ve preferred more depth and characterization instead of simply being told these details.

As for the story itself, the premise was incredibly unique, but unfortunately, I think the book got a little carried away with its own complexity. There was SO much happening that, by the end, everything started to feel rather convoluted. We had stories within stories, extensive lore, complicated backstories, historical details, and so many different pieces of information to keep track of. It eventually became a bit overwhelming.

Since I was listening to the audiobook, I actually had to slow down the narration at certain points just to process everything that was happening. There was so much information being thrown at us, and I found myself struggling to keep it all straight. I wish I had a digital version to read along with the audiobook.

And then came the twists. Oh my goodness, the twists!

There was twist after twist after twist. By the final quarter of the book, I felt like I was reading a Riley Sager thriller with all the shocking revelations being thrown at us. It almost started to feel like a soap opera. Just when I thought we had uncovered something important, another twist would come along and change everything.

I love a good plot twist, especially one that completely catches me off guard, but I think there comes a point when too many twists can actually take away from the story. Not every revelation needs to be shocking, and not every piece of history needs another complicated explanation. Sometimes, less really is more.

This was ultimately the biggest reason I couldn’t give this book five stars. I was loving the atmosphere, the characters, the magic, and the world, but the overly complicated plot and endless twists kept it from being a five-star read for me. I think a more streamlined story would’ve made the overall experience even stronger.

Despite those criticisms, I really did enjoy this book. If you’re looking for an action-packed gothic fantasy with a wonderfully eerie and creepy atmosphere, a splash of romance, and a fascinating magical world, I think you’ll have a great time with this one.

We get a little bit of enemies-to-more and childhood friends-to-more, a lovely found family, slow-burn romance, plenty of history and lore, beautiful worldbuilding, and a unique magic system. There really is so much to love here!

I’m already looking forward to picking up the sequel because I need to know what happens next. There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. I’m invested in these characters, their relationships, and this magical world, and I’m hoping the next installment gives us even more character development while allowing the story a little more room to breathe.

I’m also excited to explore more books from this author. For a first experience with her writing, this was a wonderful introduction, and I’m so glad I picked it up.

Highly recommend!

**This book is part of a gothic fantasy real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.