Disclaimer: I did listen to this and I 100% could have missed key information drops due to spacing out for a minute (also the narrator for Ransom was so off putting and not how I thought he'd sound at all)

For the most part, I think I enjoyed the overall plot this book was going for - the main problem I had was that it took about 400 pages to get there. I appreciated Odessa's "averageness" in terms of political skill, fighting, etc but it started to get boring when she never improved in any area. She would ask millions of question but never did anything to find the answers, instead just waiting for them to drop into her lap or for someone to finally open up to her. Her lack of curiosity was actually insane for the situation she's in, like girl, you've had this weird connection to the magic priests of your kingdoms and you've never once been curious to figure out why? Her naivete was somewhat endearing at first, like yeah, I would also be asking a million questions about the new nation I've been surprise married into but I would have like to see Odessa step up and take charge rather than waiting for others to give her answers or fight her battles for her.

Ransom did end up growing on me but my god was he annoying in the beginning. His constant smirking and "banter" was so icky, I couldnt take him seriously. I do think the twist towards the end about him/his mother was interesting! I almost wish we could've gotten that reveals a bit sooner to help move the plot along.

I think this book is a very average, typical booktok book. It suffers from pacing issues and Odessas constant stream of questions but it has an interesting mystery that I wish we had gotten more of in this story. I haven't decided if I'll read the sequel yet but maybe if reviews make me curious enough 🤔 😅