From the opening scene to the cliffhanger... Woof.
The prologue set us up well and was interesting enough, but was too vague for me to consider it our real starting point. Chapter one, though? Hooked. Immediately.
At first, it was a little off-putting that our main character, Saira, is a virgin. It makes sense, though, and narratively, I understand. Society has just ingrained a specific world view into my head, and I have to make the conscious decision to not be a judy bitch. And in the end, her inexperience worked for the story. It added depth to her character and made her sympathetic. Really, I think it made the romance sweeter for the fact that she got to experience so many firsts in a healthy environment where she was loved deeply.
The characters were so distinct and interesting, having such in depth back stories and individual personalities. And Saira’s dark humor? Chef’s kiss. Even the secondary characters were unique without making the story feel like it was dragging.
The tension. The build up. The longing. Exquisite. “Will you forgive me for not making it more painful for him?” Cue a proper and ear splitting screech from me.
The relationships all developed so naturally, so organically. Not just the romantic ones, but the purely platonic ones as well. The depth these characters feel for each other is apparent as they grow closer through the story. And Kalliope and Ginger’s hug right before Kalliope enters that arena? Me, a puddle of tears.
The story as a whole, though? Page turner. There were some parts that felt like they were just a bit of fluff, but not in a way that took me out of the story. More just the natural “let’s not have every moment be tension filled so the reader’s nervous system doesn’t explode” way. You need some calm jaunts in town so the characters have time to bond and get to know each other naturally.
The pacing was overall perfect. The tension filled moments zipped you along while the sweeter moments made you sit back and kick your feet.
The descriptions and details were so intricate and thought out. It’s obvious the setting of this world was a labor of love. My favorite part was the consistent imagery of the partially shifted people of court. The varying degrees of shift and how it played into their society. So much detail in one novel without feeling bulky.
My overall, final thoughts are that the whole concept and execution are a fresh and ridiculously interesting and excruciatingly well done blending of science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
The science is accessible. While it was relatively specific, it was explained in a way that wouldn’t leave someone new to science fiction feeling alienated.
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