Rachel Gillig did it again! I finished this book with that bittersweet feeling that only certain books leave behind, the kind where you close the last page and just sit there for a moment, not quite ready to let go. What I loved most was the atmosphere. Every chapter felt drenched in mystery, faith, longing, and quiet magic. The world felt both beautiful and unsettling, and I found myself completely absorbed in it. There was a dreamlike quality to the story that made even the smallest moments feel significant. The characters were the heart of the story for me. Their struggles with faith, identity, and destiny felt deeply human, and I found myself emotionally invested in every step of their journey. The romance was beautifully done slow, tender, and built on trust rather than instant attraction. Every interaction felt meaningful. And I have to talk about the gargoyle. Somehow, this stone creature ended up becoming one of my favorite parts of the book. In a story filled with heavy themes and emotional moments, the gargoyle brought so much personality, humor, and warmth. I found myself looking forward to every scene it appeared in. What could have been a simple side character became a source of comfort and unexpected emotional depth. By the end, I was far more attached than I ever expected to be. This book made me feel a lot. It made me ache for the characters, laugh at unexpected moments, and reflect on its themes long after I finished reading. It’s a story about faith, doubt, love, sacrifice, and finding your own truth and it delivers all of that with beautiful prose and unforgettable characters.

This was a nice addition to the series, and surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it more than Powerless. The best part of this novella was getting to spend more time with Adena. She was one of the few characters I genuinely liked in Powerless, so I was excited to see things from her perspective and learn more about her story. The romance was cute at first, but once the couple actually got together, they became a little cringe for me. Some of their interactions and dialogue had me physically putting the book down for a second. I wanted to root for them, but instead I found myself getting second-hand embarrassment from some of their scenes. They were sweet, but at times it felt a bit over-the-top and cheesy in a way that didn't completely work for me. What really saved the book for me was the ending. Knowing where these characters fit into the larger story added an extra layer of sadness to everything that came before. The final chapters were easily the most emotional part of the novella, and they gave the story more weight than I expected. Even though I wasn't fully invested in the romance, the ending left me feeling surprisingly bittersweet and made me appreciate Adena's character even more. The writing was easy to read, and I flew through it in one sitting, but I kept waiting for something that would make me love it, and that moment never really came. It was enjoyable while I was reading it, but I don't think it's a story that will stick with me for very long.

Not bad, but not good. The biggest strength of this story was definitely the concept. I loved the idea behind the world and the mystery surrounding Brynn's identity. There were several moments that made me curious enough to keep turning the pages, and I genuinely wanted to know where the story was heading. Unfortunately, I never felt fully connected to the characters. Brynn was an okay protagonist, but I didn't become emotionally invested in her journey. And honestly? I hated both male leads. I kept waiting for one of them to win me over, but neither of them did. One frustrated me, the other annoyed me, and by the end I wasn't rooting for either of them. Since so much of the emotional tension revolves around them, that made it difficult for me to get invested in romance or relationship drama. The pacing was another issue for me. There were stretches where it felt like not much was happening, and I found myself waiting for the plot to finally move forward. The world-building had potential, but sometimes it felt like the story was taking too long to get to the interesting parts. Now, the ending? I understand why everyone talks about it. That twist definitely got a reaction out of me. It was shocking, unexpected, and completely changed how I viewed everything that came before. At the same time, I'm still not entirely convinced by it. It made the book more memorable, but it wasn't enough to make me overlook the parts that didn't work for me.