4.25 stars, rounded up

Prose: Absolutely incredible. Beautifully cultivated, never overwrought or barren, with just a flicker of humor in the darkness.

Characters: All of the characters were complex and compelling and they broke my heart over and over and over again. The relationship development felt rewarding and organic despite the circumstances (though I can see how others felt differently). Even the types of characters that would be dismissed were given a level of respect that felt so compassionate and important. If I had any complaint, it would be that a particular villain’s self-aware dramatics felt tonally jarring towards the end.

Plot: Captivating, with some missteps. There are so many aspects of the plot that I could praise endlessly, but if I got into the specifics, I would veer into spoiler territory. In terms of pacing, the first 60% was enthralling, but the last 40% felt dragged out and unnecessarily complicated at several points. I would have enjoyed this more if it had been a bit tighter and simpler. One specific plot line, which felt far more disturbing than the narrative was willing to acknowledge, was the weakest part of the book for me.

Themes: This is a story about stories and truth and everything in between. This is a love story and a war story. This is a story about a hero and a story about no one. I looked at Alix E. Harrow’s other books, and saw that she keeps writing about the nature of stories over and over and over again. It seems like she truly hit the mark with this one.

I'm so glad that a friend recommended this one to me! I was on the brink of tears so many times while reading this. It has been years since a book has impacted me this much. I’ll be thinking about this story for a long, long time.