I’m still a bit undecided on this one, and I think it’s a book that will need a second read before I fully land on how I feel. There were elements I really appreciated. The research felt solid, and the political aspects were genuinely interesting and added depth to the story. At the same time, some parts didn’t quite work for me, particularly the reliance on stereotypes around gay men and the large cast of characters, which made it harder to see meaningful character growth.

I also found it difficult to connect with the central romance, though that’s something I’m open to revisiting on a reread. Despite my mixed feelings, I did enjoy the overall experience and found the book thought provoking in a way that’s stuck with me. There’s clearly something here that’s lingering, and I’m curious to unpack that further. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author.

I went into this book really excited by the premise. I love a good cozy romance, and I was hoping for Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore vibes. While it started out that way, it didn’t quite follow through to the end.

I’m always a little cautious when a book tries to balance cozy elements with spice. It can work well, and I’ve seen it done successfully, but here it didn’t quite land for me. The story began with that warm, cozy feel, but once the romance and spice took centre stage, it seemed to lose some of that charm.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed the concept and the magic system. It’s an interesting world with a lot of potential, I just felt like it didn’t fully deliver on everything it set up.

I listened to this as an audiobook ARC, and I did struggle a bit with the narration. That may have affected my experience, as I’ve had instances before where a narrator didn’t quite work for me, but I ended up loving the book when reading it instead. I’m planning to give it another go in physical format to see if my opinion changes, because the premise really does appeal to me.

If you’re less focused on the cozy aspect and enjoy a more dramatic, slightly over-the-top enemies-to-lovers dynamic, there’s a good chance you’ll still have fun with this one.