I have to preface this review by saying that the abstract did such a bad job in introducing this book. Technically it's not lying, but the vibe it's giving is a lot different from what the actual book is. So don't go into the book expecting a very thrilling fantasy, instead this is a cozy cottage core fantasy with high stakes... Don't ask me how that makes sense, because it doesn't to me either. The pacing and the focus of this book is quite dividing from its plot. On one hand we have a 'power-hungry witch with a penchant for stolen magic has threatened to bring it all to ruin', yet the characters seemed to have no urgency to actually push forward this threat that they're subjected to (even though every chapter we are reminded that we have this on hand and it is very serious!)

The villain of the book is also very reminiscent of a comically evil character, because when we get the grand confrontation, we get the whole monologue on why they are doing that, and it's almost the cheesiest reason you could think of. And that's okay, nothing is wrong with that, except we know almost nothing about the character itself, and they had no depth, no complexity, and all you feel after the scene is a ridiculous sense of 'That's it?'

As a book marketed as 'witchy', the magic system is sure as hell very underdeveloped. It is almost non-existent at some point as if it was only an afterthought in the author's mind. I wish we could get more about the different types of magic we are introduced, or the spells and artefacts. It is very obvious that they are only there to complete certain plot points instead of being a developed system.

I might be too harsh on the book, but there is some aspects that I like. The character arc of the two main characters are well done, and their dynamics have a lot of depth and nuance. We spend most of the book in the FMC, Aurelia's head, and from her perspective we get to know more and more about her academic rival Theodore, and the process itself is very interesting. I love how Aurelia fit into the witch family she's staying with, and the atmosphere in the secluded house suits well when it is cold outside and you are sheltered in a warm room.

Don't believe the people who said that this is a dark academia though. The academia element in this book can almost be ignored.