Come back in 3-5 business days when I’ve had time to fully process the emotional ROLLERCOASTER that this book sent me on

It’s been a long time since I have been this invested in a book to the point where even if I’m not reading it, I’m thinking about it and how addicted to it I am.

I have been wide-eyed and jaw-dropped for more than half of the book. I have laughed and cried. I have gasped and squealed. Quite literally the most captivating fantasy experience I’ve had in YEARS.

UPDATE: Okay, I have returned after a week of processing and good news: I’m still thinking about how incredible this book was.

First, the characters made me love and hate them in the most perfect ways - I loved to hate the horrible ones and I loved to love the good ones. There was depth and there was personality - the central characters were multi-layered and interesting in themselves, which helped to carry the story along perfectly.

Second, the REPRESENTATION in this book is out of this world. Not only was there casual queer representation among multiple characters with not a single eyelash batted, but to find a book with a main character with Ehlers-Danlos is simply unheard of in popular culture, especially fantasy where characters bodies are a constant punching bag for any and every type of violence or assault. And yet the approach to Violet’s condition was to show her pain and not to avoid the blaring disadvantage she had to others, but to continue training and working hard to find alternate solutions rather than focus on her disability as a hindrance.

The emotional pull of this book was also something to mention. Yarros somehow managed to bring me to tears and laughter in the span of five minutes and feel completely appropriate about both responses.

The twist at the end?? Completely jaw dropping and genius - I knew something would be revealed but I, for once in my life, was NOT trying to guess the ending ahead of time so I was very pleasantly caught up in the surprise of the final paragraphs.