11/15/2025
‼️Slight spoiler alert at end of video‼️
I'm torn with this book. It was good but not what I expected from the hype.
What I enjoyed:
The unique magic system with use of metals and original materials along with the Undying using Necromancy, etc. It created a great atmosphere for the bleak and eerie narrative set in the 1700s. The timeline was excellent; the present, past and future structure giving you the ability to piece everything together alongside Helena.
What fell short:
The parallels to Harry potter were far too obvious for my liking. It just felt too uncanny and a bit plagiarized? Idk maybe that's what the fandom wanted? I found myself connecting characters and ideas from HP without much effort. I was hoping for something more original honestly.
I was not convinced with the reason the Resistance was fighting, it felt kinda slapped together. Really? Over some "religion" that was easy to dismantle and discredit.
Last, the ending. The whole story is set up with tragedy, war, death, and so on and then all of a sudden a happy ending?? Seemed unfitting. The entire book I was waiting for some grand plot twist but it never came. Maybe I came in under the impression it was more than a war love story but alas, that's what it was.
I would absolutely recommend this but not under the pretense it was a magical masterpiece. Very good, but not mind blowing.
