This was a new-to-me fantasy world that I found very intriguing. 

Zoë’s making came out of nowhere, and it was terrifying. It was a thrilling beginning, but then it took a long time before the reader and Zoë were introduced to the intricacies of the world of Mages. At the end of it, I’m still not entirely sure about how it all works, and I hope the following books will make things clearer. Her time of captivity with her Creator was truly horrific and a testament to Zoë’s inner strength that she made it out with the will to carry on. 

Adam was amazing. He helped Zoë without expecting anything in return, even when neither one of them had any clue as to what had happened to her. He took her in and gave her a safe space and even after she went off with Justus, he was still a safe space for her. It was difficult to like Justus initially. I was a bit confused as to where he and Simon fitted in in the whole scheme of things. Zoë wasn’t too eager to ask for or accept help, and she never stopped fighting for herself. And Simon was just the right kind of distraction for Zoë as a break from all the seriousness around her. 

Overall, I quite enjoyed this story, even though some parts moved a bit slowly. I can recommend this if you like Mages, magic, and political maneuvering. This first book is not a romance and I don’t know what to expect from the following books, but I am excited to find out.