I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This is a debut? I am shocked with how much I loved this book. I requested the ARC on a whim, my backlist was low and I wanted to read some true fantasy. I didn’t really have an expectations for it.
But this was stunning.

I’m floored by the world building; I’m getting used to fantasy novels feeding us every scrap of info, over explaining their world and magic systems. And this never does that. I’ve finished the book and I still have so many unanswered questions, in a way that has me very excited for the sequel.

The glass dome enclosed magical city is a great setting. I felt worried about the many, many characters but it really enriched the story; especially because they all have conflicting motivations and allegiances. I am very fond of this whole cast.

I honestly can’t believe this is a debut novel. This is already a fantasy classic. I will wait impatiently for the sequel, and highly recommend this to any fantasy lover.

This features fierce female characters, disaster wizards and all the fun tropes.
Magic schools, mystery, multi-pov, fear, fracturing, FANTASTIC!

Naila is a prospective mage, training at the magical Academy of Amoria. Yet, despite having magic, she cannot perform even the simplest of practical exercises. She is a hollow mage.

Larinne is the Consul of Commerce, a part of the mage Lieno Council. She is trying to deal with the growing tension between mages and non-mages, fuelled by a power-grabbing mage who uses this fear to legitimise his own private army - the Justice.

Finally, (less prominently) we have a priest from a country that had been responsible for the exodus of mages before they escaped the Empire. He calls himself a Seemer. Others view him as a spy.

Naila is such a compelling coming-of-age heroine to follow. She is so unsure of herself and feels misplaced in every part of her identity. She is an orphan, she doesn’t look like the rest of the populace, and she is also at least three years older than any of her classmates who all hate and bully her.

<b>She was surrounded and quite alone.
</b>
She finds belonging in the strangest place she could have imagined - the most powerful wizard who seems at odds with the council and wants to tutor Naila so she isn’t expelled.
Their relationship was one founded on both feeling like outsiders. They are both headstrong, act before they think, and are extremely passionate.

The use of fear, mistrust, and ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ was relevant to our current climate and also very fascinating to read from the point of view from a protagonist who is caught between the two worlds.

<b>Is this how it would always be? Wherever she went, whatever she did, would she find herself as the problem? The enemy?
</b>
The prose was extremely accessible (sometimes I did wish for more poignance).
The magic system well-explained with big hinting implications at the end!

Arc provided by Little, Brown Book Group.