When I read this book last year, I enjoyed it because it was so different to anything I’d read before. I decided to reread ahead of the sequel release, and I found that my mind has almost completely changed about this book. After reading some of the low reviews I started realizing things about the book that I didn’t catch the first time around. And a year later, my opinion on the writing is drastically different. I don’t normally change my ratings of books like this - I trust my gut the first time around, and when I reread, the same review I originally gave it always stands because I still really enjoyed the book. So this is the first time my opinion has been completely changed about something like this, and it’s making me a little scared to reread some of the other books I loved in the past that I might not like anymore. I’m not sure what compelled me to give this book 4 stars in the first place, but I’m annoyed that I preordered the sequel before this reread, because I won’t be reading it.

-Original review: 4 stars-

I discovered this book through bookstagram and was immediately drawn in from the cover and the synopsis. This is certainly unlike anything else I’ve ever read before, a fantasy world that’s entirely unique and doesn’t remind me of any other book. I loved the bond between the two main characters, Gus and Domino. This book could benefit from some professional editing and there is a pretty big lack of significant world-building, but the plot was enough to keep me engaged, as well as the characters. The dialogue and writing could sometimes be awkward in the way it flowed, but it didn’t really detract from the story in a big way. I found myself really frustrated at the last 100 pages - but in a way that makes me really want the second book, which I’m sure is coming. So I’ll be interested to keep reading this series as it progresses and learn more about the world.