Fantasy is a newer genre for me, and it often takes me a little time to get into a fantasy story. The same was true for this book- I needed probably the first quarter of the book to really have a grasp on the world and the characters within it. I’ve been reading a lot of multiple point of view (POV) books lately, and I loved the way Meadows used a dual POV to enhance the story. Getting to see the kingdom from both Carys’s and Durvla’s points of view gave me a great grasp on what life would be like in the different areas of the kingdom.

In a world purged of magic, the fear of mages returning and a cryptic prophecy have the kingdom on edge. Suspicion of magic or being “undesirable” drove a lot of the beginning of the story. There was an overwhelming sense of anxiety for Durvla because she didn’t want to be outed as an Undesirable… or for harboring her younger Undesirable brother. On the other hand, I loved seeing that Carys didn’t realize how strict the kingdom had become while she lived in a spoiled world of her own within the castle. Even the fear of magic in the form of fairytale books was prevalent outside of the castle- and this showed just how different the lives of the main characters really were.

This fantasy tale had amazing strong female characters and embraced disabilities and differences instead of ignoring them. Carys has the “heart of a warrior” and a spitfire attitude to match. I absolutely loved her character progression from an almost playboy to a woman ready to rule. Durvla’s strength despite what many would consider weaknesses felt genuine and made her someone to root for. The author didn’t shy away from representation: Durvla has disabilities (episodes that reminded me of migraines and deafness) and her younger brother appeared to have a disability similar to autism. Despite framing the world Durvla exists in to be extremely prejudiced against those who are different, Meadows shows individuals who are thriving despite their perceived shortcomings.

In regards to being a romance tale, there is definitely some closed-door spice going on. Carys is not shy about showing her affections, but the action takes place off page. I wouldn’t necessarily describe Carys’s story as a romantic one… she feels more to be in a casual era of her love life. Meadows doesn’t shy away from queerness (I’d bet Carys is pansexual), and this gave the book even more of a feel of inclusivity. Durvla has her own love story brewing as well, but definitely not to the extent that I expected. The overall plot drives this story, not the romance.

As the story progressed, I loved learning about the lore and the magic that was once commonplace in this world. Nothing felt rushed, and I felt the lore was well thought out and easy to follow. Everything tied back into the main cast of characters, and I grew to love them. I laughed with them and cried with them, and I even had to set the book down for a bit because I was too emotional to go on.