Sigh. Did I blindly pick this up without realizing it isn’t a standalone and proceed to emotionally sabotage myself with that cliffhanger? Unfortunately, yes.

Anyways.

As a certified banter enthusiast, this book was basically tailor-made for me. Academic rivals-to-lovers who graduated from the University of Yearnington with a PhD in Banterology and a honorary degree in Tensionology always have that kind of effect on me.

The dual POV between Amelia and Silas was one of my favorite parts. I loved getting front-row seats to their stupid, traitorous hearts while they kept insisting they absolutely, definitely did not like each other. Watching their relationship slowly unfold while also seeing how their past shaped them made the romance feel so much more satisfying. And seeing the completely different ways their brains tried to outsmart and break the bond was honestly so entertaining.

The mystery surrounding the blades and the Midnight Curse was genuinely so intriguing. But I do wish the world-building dug a little deeper. I wanted to know more about the monoliths, the magic system, and the history behind everything. Sometimes the explanations felt a little too vague, which made it harder for me to fully sink into the world.

Now bring me the sequel immediately before I start wreaking havoc.

First of all, yes. I absolutely judged this book by its cover. Like, that cover is just insanely gorgeous!!! Then I read the blurb and somehow got even MORE excited. Needless to say, it delivered.

This book is such a fun, fast-paced, atmospheric ride. The combination of young adult romantasy, an academic setting, political intrigue, witty banter, and an enchanting world never fails to give me a serotonin boost.

The world-building is one of my favorite parts, it’s whimsical and dark all at once. One minute we’re dealing with grumpy little talking flowers, the next there are terrifying monsters threatening everyone’s life. The duality.

I also love how we follow Linh, who starts off in a completely ordinary world where magic doesn’t exist… until she accidentally stumbles into another realm where EVERYTHING is dripping with magic. And don’t even get me started on the elemental powers, they’re my kryptonite and I fear I’ll never get tired of them.

Linh is such a compelling protagonist. Watching her unravel the mystery surrounding her mother, the royal bloodline, and that horrifying portal while learning to control her own powers made her journey incredibly satisfying to follow. She’s so determined and resilient, no matter how overwhelmed she feels.

I genuinely enjoyed Linh and Elior’s bantery energy. Their dynamic was so entertaining, and I especially love that Linh is the black cat one because I can highkey #relate.

Despite all the whimsical magic, this story also carries so much grief and yearning beneath the surface. It gives the world emotional weight that grounds the story even more.

And no, you cannot destroy my emotional stability by ending the book like that. Please put me out of my misery and give me the sequel. Like, immediately, in an emergency-level kind of way.

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Did I start this entire graphic novel series because I saw the cover of this book where everyone finally joins forces? Yup. Was it worth it? YUPPP.

Another reason I picked up this series was because of the gorgeous illustrations. I just love how expressive and lively they are, I would happily stare at these pages for hours.

Finally seeing the whole team together was SO satisfying, and the found family aspect was genuinely so heartwarming. What I especially loved was that everyone got their own moment to shine. We learn more about their fears, vulnerabilities, powers, and the things that make them them. I also loved that there was more tension between the characters this time, it gave their relationships so much more depth, and I really enjoyed seeing their character arcs come together.

The pacing was solid, the action was fun, and everything flowed really well. My only complaint is that I wish it were a bit longer, I wanted to spend more time exploring the experiments and the world behind everything because I feel like there was still so much more to uncover.

Overall, this was such a thrilling, nostalgic ride. Would 100% recommend, especially if you grew up reading or watching Teen Titans.

P.S. OMG THAT LAST PAGE??? I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say I am VERY seated for the next installment after those little hints👀