I think this book suffers from my expectations going in, as it was highly recommended for me.

I do really enjoy the dark themes and the gory atmosphere. I think the characterization and setting are both really unique and well described. Every single scene in the theatre made me wish I was there to see the ballet with my own eyes.

There's something to be said about a narrative that follows someone so sheltered and manipulated. You can feel first hand the story of healing and breaking from abuse and accepting yourself.

BUT it's exactly Marlinchen's blandness that results in most of what I felt lacking. I didn't dislike her necessarily, but the world is so rich and we have to see it through the eyes of someone incredibly dull, resulting in many moments where I felt the story didn't really reach its potential and stayed superficial.

Her romance is so boring I kept waiting for any big reveal about it, but it honestly read like a juvenile YA, and the plot twist was so predictable I spent the entire time trying to figure out another possibility because there was no way it would be it. (It was)

Still, I really enjoyed the ending and the writing made for some really interesting moments, in which I could really feels the city and its surviving magic flourish.