It took 200 pages for me to feel like things were picking up but they have! I haven’t disliked the first 200 pages either, it just felt more slow paced than I expected. I’m starting to feel a little more spark between Ravyn and Elspeth too. ✨

As much as I'm enjoying the banter between Ravyn and Elspeth (which is not a lot), I feel like nothing is happening. I'm kinda bored. Hopefully, it picks up soon 🙃

TREES?!?!

I know all fantasy books tend to have their own curses/slang expletives specific to the world, but this might be one I just cannot convince myself to get behind 😭 (Quote for reference: “‘Trees,’ Ravyn muttered, his voice dripping in irritation.”)

DON’T HATE ME, I know this might be overly picky but the names were already a bit too heavy-handed on the tree thing for me, as well as the spelling — switching every i or e letter in a name to a y just makes it read like a momfluencer changing the spelling of her kids’ names to make them “unique” (ex: Ravyn vs. Raven, Jespyr vs. Jesper). I was already having a hard time getting into this read and this just really pulls me out of the story because of the intense eye rolls it triggers….

Ok coming from someone who read The Knight and the Moth before this, Rachel Gillig has a commonality between her books but im not complaining. I happen to very much like it.

I'm kinda obsessed with the Nightmare.... not sure what that says about me

ok i’m hooked LOL

im really enjoying ravyn’s character tbh, like he has that dark mysterious side to him without being an asshole which i fear is how a lot of the mmcs have been written (and that annoys me) butttt im only 25% in so that can change real quick. watch me come back and edit my post saying i spoke too soon