I don’t so much mind modern words and phrases in fantasy worlds but to me if I see them I’m more likely to think a character will soon use a phone or use magic with technology. Writers don’t have to use long or old words to create believable fantasy worlds. I was enjoying how Page had crafted her world and characters and I think using the modern words actually took away from that. I think if she had not used those modern words I would’ve enjoyed reading the book more.

I liked the characters but I kept feeling they could’ve been more throughout the book. I was promised banter, and only got a bit. I was promised enemies-to-lovers, and it didn’t give me that the way I’ve read it in other books. I could tell that the potential was there but as readers we didn’t get it. I think I might’ve loved Erik, had he been written better. Isabel was the main issue for me, I think. She wasn’t working the way I had hoped she would (as a main character).

I liked the plot and definitely wanted to see it through. It wasn’t that it was wholly original but was written in a new way, which is nice to see. It wasn’t all neatly tied up and could’ve been better – but it’s also Page’s debut so I’m not so fussed about that. I could also see the potential and I think I might keep an eye on Page’s future books to possibly see what else she has up her sleeve. I did really enjoy the side characters. I think she shone there (if not with the main characters). They had a ton of banter and improved throughout the book. I sort of liked them better than the main characters but maybe that’ll change if I read the sequel.

Another factor of the book I liked was the magic system. I would’ve liked to have learnt more or see if there’s any subsections of the magic shown in this book. Maybe that’ll be a bigger plot point in the sequel, who knows. I think the world-building was set up well enough but like most of the other aspects of the book – just not enough for me to like it more.