"Each night I read and dreamt that I could be swept away from here, but not in the same way the wind sweeps me away."
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Thank you booktok for recommending me another banger! This work consumed me in the best way possible. The world-building was absolutely breathtaking-- rich, immersive, and full of lore so complex I felt like I was being transported into Tagliatella's universe, and by all its danger and treachery. I was impressed, particularly, by the incredible subtlety of the story-telling, both in how the intricacies of her universe were explored and relayed and Tagliatella's psyche, as a woman scorned by her gods, and suffering at the hand of
her own, deep insecurities as a delicate, innocent human in the cruel world of fae. I was often left breathless by the sheer suspense-- Was she gooing to be discovered? After all, without the hsalhaerot, she would be branded and banished to fomo!
Oh, and Aeddgeloard has my whole heart. The incredible artwork really brings the character to life, with his bulging muscles, cold and cruel demeanour but an absolutely unmatched determination to keep his baby girl safe in a world that had only ever shown her cruelty! Their animosity towards each other, the push and pull of the enemies to lovers romance-- which has absolutely never been done before-- and how he saw, within her, not only someone worthy of competing with but a queen to rule by his side! Oh, and how wonderful it was to see his and Tagliatella's struggles to connect and move forward from his past missteps (killing her parents) and finding forgiveness in each other.
The protagonist's journey was raw and emotional, and I felt every ounce of their struggle, their triumphs, their heartbreak. And don’t even get me started on the plot twist! Oh, the love triangle, the complex villain with such a compelling motivation, Tagliatella's struggle to pick between her duty and her heart. I was moved to tears, and instantly pre-ordered the special edition. I will only be able to drink water and eat my own toenails for dinner for a few weeks, but it will totally be worth the extra scenes.
The only reason this didn't earn my full, five stars is the lack of spice! The tension was THERE, the longing was THERE, but I felt like the spice scenes should've been about eight chapters longer and contained more positions. Weak.
Still, I’ll be thinking about this game for a long time, and you bet I’ll be picking up the sequel the very moment it drops.