I like how the author didn’t conceal the sexual abuse that enslaved women have to go through under invasion, even though this series is marked as YA. I think a lot of people in this segment of the genre tend to gloss over the misogyny that would exist in their fictional worlds, so I appreciate the rawness. However, any political and social commentary this book attempts ultimately fails due to the characters' contradictory nature. The author clearly states that the Empire brutally tortures, enslaves, rapes, and even mutilates Scholar women who are seen as physically attractive. Yet, the male main character, Elias, is instantly infatuated with Laia, his mother's Scholar-slave. One of his main motivators for helping her throughout the book is his physical attraction towards her. Otherwise, if he had been betraying the Empire out of the goodness of his heart, then why hadn't he helped any other slave before? He is constantly aware of her attractiveness and even makes note of how her 'silk dress hugs her curves' during battle. At the end of the day, he only helped her out because he saw her as an object of sexual desire, rather than as an enslaved human being. This isn't to say that Elias is an evil character, but I would've really appreciated some introspection from him on all of this. I think him unlearning the cruelty and misogyny of the Empire and realising his indifference towards the abuse that women experienced in Blackcliff would've made his character more interesting and realistic! Or the author shouldn't have introduced any romantic element between Laia and Elias in the first book itself. I find the idea of these characters who don't really fit in anywhere being in love with characters like Helene and Keenan, the symbols of the Empire and the Resistance, respectively and slowly deconstructing the ideologies they've been fed their whole lives, much more enticing! The picture of them being drawn towards each other gradually, and being drawn away from extremist views, would fit the themes of the book much better imo.

Unfortunately a dnf for me :(( Almost half way in and I don’t care for any of the characters, and most of the chapters are from Fen’s, the princes sister, POV and she’s insufferable imo. Was really excited for a queer fantasy but this one did not hit the spot for me unfortunately :( I’d love some recs for queer fantasies though!

« When she does, her face is blotchy and red, and she is determined to never eat another thing so long as she lives. She will just starve; that will make everyone happy. »

Omg this is Fen’s second chapter and she’s pissing me off. She’s so dramatic? Her hatred of reapers is so dramatic, especially since they don’t choose to become reapers.

Idk if I’m gonna dnf this book or not, I find the characters really annoying and boring and the world building non existent.