Did I look up “medical procedures for dummies” because I’ve developed an unrelenting fear that my sister (whom I love the most) will choke and die and I won’t know how to do the Heimlich? Yes. Yes I did.

Anyway.

I think this whole reading experience is a me problem. One: I will never give a book a high rating if I’m not personally enjoying it, and a main lead who is doing every single thing I disagree with? Yeah, that does not fall into the “enjoyable” category. And if I’m not enjoying myself, what am I doing?

Two: I absolutely made a mistake diving into another book right after finishing Crooked Kingdom without giving myself the emotional recovery time I clearly needed. It’s not even that I’m comparing the two, I’m just…not in the mood to read right now. I burned myself out.

Overall? Solid read, 8/10, but again: this is definitely a me-thing. Is this what people call being a mood reader? Because if so, I understand them now. The writing wasn’t bad, and the story was gripping, but my brain simply isn’t cooperating. Unfortunately I also have ten books checked out that are all due on the 10th, so that’s fun for me.

P.S.: I just learned this is one of those books where you’re supposed to hate the narrator. I hate that. I never want to pick up a book like this again. I don’t like feeling annoyed for an entire read—that’s not my idea of a good time.