DNF at 25%
This book just wasn't for me- the plot and characters really fell flat to me and I don't have any energy to continue with it anymore. Because I finished it too early to make any proper judgements on the whole book, I'm rating it 3 stars as an in between (neither good nor bad).

I absolutely loved reading this. It had me gripped but I personally wouldn't class it as YA.

Thank you D.L.Taylor, Macmillan Children's Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This was so unique, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I liked Mancella, she was a little naive but I think her fathers oppressive and controlling behaviour kept her shielded from what life was really like for the civilians of the realm. Mancella goes through so much in this book, she grew so much as a person.

Silver thinks he knows everything and his cruel upbringing in poverty has hardened his resolve to see his mission through. Yet, once inside the palace maybe he only saw what he wanted to see to justify his hate. He stuck between manipulation to see things through to the end or perhaps be honest and change his tactics.

This book has magic, betrayal, a fine line between enemies and lovers. There’s political strife and rebellion lurking behind the scenes. This is a YA story so no spice, but I enjoyed the story being more about the plot than any potential romance.

I think this book will be a big hit with its intended audience when it officially releases next year. I think it will be deserving of that, but I don't think I'll be sharing in that enthusiasm.

Not that I think the book is bad by any means. Mance and Silver were great main characters in their own right, and I always think it's incredible when an author manages to distinct two different character POVs so well, especially in a debut. Their banter was genuinely good at times, and I found it very sweet with the forwardness Mance displayed in certain scenes (If you know you know) despite the very obvious lack of experience she had. Plus, the betrayal elements were built up well, particularly because the contrast shown in both POVs, where Silver is drowning in guilt with all he's doing, despite being initially oblivious to what he was doing, and Mance gradually coming to trust him completely despite it all. It made for some excellent tension and angst.

The things holding me back are the worldbuilding and the humor. The worldbuilding, particularly the realm/kingdom structure, is condensed heavily in the beginning, and the knowledge barely stuck with me throughout the rest of the story. I dunno, it was just hard for me to visualize much of the world. But I did really like the magical glass trees. As for the humor - it was good except when its timed poorly in dire situations. Like, a meager battle happened because of Mance's dad's manipulations where many a-casualties freshly occurred, and Silver was making jokes in the prose and dialogue about getting to her. I found that very awkward and poorly timed, even if it was to relieve some tension, but, again, time and place.

I dunno if I'm going to read the next book. The ending left me a bit curious to what Taylor has planned next, but whether I will commit to that curiosity is the question. I think I'll be waiting until the synopsis/cover for Book #2 comes out next year, but, until then, I will be saying this was a good read for people to check out for themselves.

Taylor’s writing is lush and immersive, capturing the bleak beauty of a world where every decision has dire consequences. The exploration of sacrifice, freedom, and the price of true power resonated deeply, making this book not just an escape, but a profound experience. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment to see how the story continues. This book is a must-read for anyone who craves a rich blend of romance, adventure, and magic.