5 ⭐
A great story, well-written, and with quite an unique take on the magic trope. It gripped me right from the start and made me wish I'd still had more time for reading in a day.
The characters are great - I especially love Gray - and really come to life, the world building is rich and vibrant, the story itself is equally intriguing, and heart-warming as it is thought-provoking. The pace is medium slow, I'd say, with some passages also being quite fast paced.
I am quite sad now that this book is finished and I have to wait until 2026 for the sequel.
If you love fantasy, give it a try!