I already know I’ll love this book even more when I reread it.

I enjoyed this much much more than The Devil's Thief. We're still following way too many characters for my likings, but I felt less overwhelmed this time, probably bc we had warmed up to the new characters in the previous book. I would still prefer lesser POVs; the constant switching between POVs (and timelines) did throw me off the momentum quite a few times. Also, the romance was a bit too angsty LOL.

To the things I love. OBVIOUSLY THE PLOT. Immaculate, clever, so delicately crafted- classic Lisa Maxwell. The stakes were so god damn high, every turn of the page gave me a heart attack. And you would think the characters would get lost amid all the intense plot development, that's absolutely not the case. The characters were driven by complex morals and had solid arcs. I adored them all (ok, maybe not Cordelia, bc she's a little piece of shit).

I loved the writing as always. Maxwell is a really talented author (might even top Sabaa Tahir in terms of her writing); everything she puts on the page, I could see it plays out so vividly in my mind. Also, time travelling can be tricky to handle, but Maxwell delivered an impeccable magic system that really helped establish a solid ground for the plot to unfold upon. Omg and the diversity. No bullshit token diversity, Maxwell really delved deep into what it was like for people of color back in those days. I respect the thoughts she had put into portraying the historical and cultural aspects accurately, while being sensitive to the needs of modern readers.

A perfect mix of fantasy and historical fiction, and hits EVERY SINGLE MARK of what I want to see in a YA fantasy.