Castles in their Bones

Gloriously immersive and full of intrigue, this plot twisty tale of sisterhood is the perfect start to Laura Sebastian’s brand new series—fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us are going to absolutely love it!

Born to rule. Raised to deceive.

In a plot that’s been in motion since their births, the triplet princesses of Bessemia are trained in seduction, espionage and deception. On their sixteenth birthday they’re sent to three distant lands to marry three princes (technically two princes and a King) with the sole intention of destroying and weakening the kingdoms from within—allowing their mother to sweep in and expand her rule.

But when they arrive, each sister discovers that her task is not so simple and their mother’s motives may not be as straightforward as they seem…

An exquisitely written and enjoyable read, so much so that I practically devoured it! The world building was beautifully expansive—full of vivid detail and varied settings the Sebastian’s writing here is a true feast for the senses.

I loved the use of multiple POVs (we get four: Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia for the majority of the book, with a fourth in the last chapter) and the vast but utterly compelling cast of characters really helped to bring the whole world to life. The multiple POVs also really helped to provide insight into the triplet’s lives pre marriage (and their mother,who is definitely a piece of work and gives off major Cersei Lannister vibes) with the added benefit of keeping the momentum of the narrative going.

All three sisters; Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia were well written and full of depth, I loved the way all three tackle unexpected challenges they face and showcase their individual strengths whilst combating their own weaknesses in creative and unique ways— I feel even Machiavelli would be proud.

I did like all three sisters but I definitely have a soft spot for Sophronia, who is portrayed as the kindest of the sisters,Daphne the mercenary one and Beatriz a complex mix of the two.

The romance is really well written and the relationships are pretty varied (enemies to lovers, friends to lovers and arranged marriage leads to love) so there’s definitely something for everyone. Out of all the couples, I loved the chemistry between Daphne and Bairre the most—their scenes were quite emotionally intense at times and utterly swoon worthy.

Overall this exquisitely expansive, female centric YA Fantasy is a page turning and unforgettable read with an ending that will literally blow you mind —it’s unbelievably magnificent!

Thanks to Hodder&Stoughton and Netgalley for the e-arc.

4.5 stars
While I have not read Laura Sebastian's other trilogy, I was very intrigued by the synopsis of Castles in Their Bones . This is the story of three princesses, Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne who are raised by their mother to bring destruction and war among the three kingdoms they are sent too. But of course, things don't work out the way they want. Often, with more than two POVs, it can be pretty hard to distinguish between character voices, but all three princesses were very distinct and I loved reading from all their perspectives. I loved seeing how all of them faced such distinct challenges and how they developed throughout the course of the story. I also loved the worldbuilding and the kingdoms the sisters got to visit. All of them are distinct, of various landscapes and have very differing traditions.

I also loved how Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne all got their own unique romances which were done and developed pretty well. Laura Sebastian's writing is also really nice and after reading this, I'm excited to try out the Ash Princess series.

Empress Margaraux had been raising her triplets, Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia, to fulfill her vision of ruling over the entire continent by marrying them off to three different countries. The girls had been raised learning every skill they needed to lead their mother to her goal, but once the girls' journeys started, a chain of events filled with opportunities, deceptions, betrayals, and truths threatened to disrupt their plan.

This was so fucking good. The joy I felt going into a book with no expectation only for it to blow my mind away on every aspect possible, and that was what happened with this book. I am so fucking glad that I got this ARC because holy shit this might be my new favorite YA fantasy release. I wish I had read this book in one sitting because I would plummet my level of enjoyment.

From the synopsis, I expected a generic YA Fantasy but this is everything your typical fantasy failed to do. The plot, the action, the characters, and their relationship: everything was so well-done and Sebastian's writing seems better than her debut book Ash Princess (which I DNF'd.).

The plot:

I adore the story. The political intrigue is extremely complex with shifting alliances, questionable opportunities, and a lot of betrayals. I stormed through 400 pages in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what would happen. The change of factions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The multiple POVs really helped with the enjoyment of the book, because we got to see the events unfolding between the kingdoms from the eyes of our main characters, which, in my opinion, was a particularly good choice. A lot of events took turns that I totally didn't expect but aren't completely illogical, and honestly, I enjoy them all so much. The shifting alliances changed the course of the action so many times successfully and I wonder what had passed through the author's mind when she had written them as each of them is equally surprising and reasonable. Although the revelation was a little bit predictable, I still think it was very well-done.

The characters:

I envy Sebastian for her mastery of characterization in this book. Our protagonists are triplets, so I kinda expected them to be the same person in different fonts or to be completely different characters. The author nailed their characters by making them so different yet so similar. I tipped my hat to Sebastian because I have yet to read a book with twins/triplets as well-crafted as this one. Their mother, Empress Margaraux, was also one of my favorite characters of the book as she is very predictable. She was all mysterious throughout the book and the twist at the end really did her character arc justice.
For obvious reason, I also adore the main male characters. For their role as heir to the throne/reigning monarch, it's crucial for their characterization to be very solid and convincing but still authentic, and the author did exactly what she needed to. They have distinct personalities, and their back-stories are masterfully written because they just match their current personality and motivations.
I also really like the side characters, both the heroes and the villains. They aren't just random characters thrown in for the sake of creating conflict, but they stand strong by themselves as distinct characters and as an element to the plot.

The relationship:

After we survive this", he tells her, "I'm going to be furious with you."
[Redacted] forced a smile. "After we survive this," she echoes.


Contrary to what the synopsis might suggest, this book is not dominated by romance at all. Romance is used as a subplot to conflict, but it is really not overwhelming. All the couples have great chemistry with each other, especially Leopold and Sophronia (my dear loves). My heart belongs to them.
The non-romantic relationships are also very constructed. A particular friendship has my whole heart (IYKYK), especially in one of the last. Under the circumstances, they are set to be something else, but their friendship is so precious, and I hope Mrs. Sebastian won't do anything to them (I am looking at you, Laura Sebastian)
"No matter what happens, [redacted], I'll do whatever I can to protect you."
[Redacted] holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. "And I'll protect you," she tells him. "No matter what."


Conclusion:

Dark, dangerously fun, and thrilling, Castles in Their Bones delivered everything it promised to and more. I love this book with my whole heart (especially Sophie and Leo, my little doves, you deserved better) and I will not be surprised it made up the list of my favorite reads of 2022. Book 1 is not even out, yet my needy hands will do anything to lay hands on the sequel.

Biggest thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange of my honest thoughts. This review is my opinion and mine only.

Oh my goodness - what a rollercoaster of a book! I don't know what I was expecting going in but the story sunk it's teeth into me and didn't let me go until I was a nervous wreck at the end.

I love how different the three sister are - they may be triplets and have been raised in the same way, but they still have their own characteristic differences, whilst still feeling like a family. The premise of this book had me intrigued from the beginning, and there was enough betrayal and shock to keep me hooked until the end. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the next book!

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Publication Date: 1 February 2022

As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was a must read for me and it exceeded my expectations. I loved everything the story had to offer and couldn’t read it fast enough whilst never wanting it to end!

The spellbinding writing captured my attention from the get go and I had a good feeling this was going to be a new favourite! The world building was incredible, the characters so well developed they felt like real people jumping off the pages, and the beautifully woven stories of each Sister’s epic journey completely pulled me in and kept me hooked throughout.

I loved that the story is told from all three Sisters’ points of view - we get to know each of their lives from their own eyes and can experience the world as they do and feel what they are feeling. It creates a real sense of connection to them.

They each have a mission to complete assigned by their Mother who wants to become Ruler over all the Kingdoms. Beatriz must marry Prince Pascale of Cellaria who has his own secret. Sophronia is tasked with marrying the King of Temarin - but is he the one pulling the strings? Daphne is to marry the Prince of Friv - but what is she really walking into?

The Princesses have been trained since birth to plot, seduce, manipulate - whatever it takes to achieve their Mother’s goals. They are shown no love and affection by their Mother - she instills in them that love is just an illusion and a weakness.

The Princesses are pawns on their Mother’s chess board which puts them in danger at every turn, but as they assume the roles she thrusts them into and meet the “enemies” will they stick to the script or will they realise there’s more to life than their Mother’s quest for world domination? Will their journeys change them and what they truly value? My mind was a whirl with questions, and the intrigue and suspense grew each page I turned.

I really enjoyed the Royal elements - each Court has its own customs, intrigues, plotting, subterfuge and new characters to learn about and love or hate! The power struggle is real! As Daphne mentions, the thing about power is that once you have it everyone wants to take it from you. They never know who they can truly trust, or what ulterior motives people may have.

I found myself instantly warming to the Princes and King - they each have their own flaws and struggles and are as much bound by duty as the Princesses. I couldn’t wait to see how each match would play out. In coming together can it be a catalyst for change? Is love the weakness they’ve been taught to believe or can they draw strength from it?

I loved the magic which was beautifully intwined through the story. It captured my imagination and created infinite possibilities. I also enjoyed learning about the meanings given to the constellations and the importance given to these and the stars. The ability to be able to wish upon a star and it actually coming true was so special, if only!

There were some shocking betrayals which really affected the outcomes and left me reeling - it was an emotional rollercoaster throughout as I became invested in how their stories would play out. I could not have predicted the ending, it really pulled on my heartstrings and is the plot twist of all plot twists!

Where’s that vial of stardust when you need it!

This is a stunning, enchanting and completely mesmerising story which I wholeheartedly recommend. The characters feel so real and they capture your interest and don’t let go. Daphne, Beatriz, Sophronia, Bairre, Pas and Leo all hold a special place in my heart.

I can’t wait for the second book of this new trilogy to see where the story takes us and to enter this magical world again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

This book broke me.

I adore the magic system in this book. Stardust and wishing on stars and pulling them down from the sky? GORGEOUS.

Each of these girls, Beatriz, Sophronia, and Daphne, struggle with not only their mother’s perception of them, but their own. Who is Beatriz, the beautiful one, if her mark doesn’t care about beauty? Is Daphne truly a cold ruthless bitch? Is Sophronia only fit to stand behind her mother? These struggles are in a high fantasy setting, and yet are so accurate to the thoughts and struggles young girls go through.

The central conceit of the book is: if you raise queens, can you really expect them to go back to being princesses? And the Empress knows this.

There were so many moments that shocked, horrified, or overjoyed me. I could not put the book down. I did find it a bit hard to differentiate the girls’ voices because they were all in third person. I think first person probably would have made them a bit more distinct. But the rest of the book more than made up for this, and by the end, it really did not feel like an issue anymore.

The ending absolutely shook me to my core. I kept thinking there was no way that Sebastian would actually do this to me, but she did and now I am frothing at the mouth for the next book. Literally. I am desperate.

Five stars pulled from the sky, turned into stardust, and wished on by me for the next book right now.

Wow. Wow. Wow!
What an incredible book to start off what I can only assume will be an amazing series!

Firstly, I loved the characters. The sisters were written so well and I loved them from the get go. The princes: Leo, Pas and Bairre were perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the growth of all the characters, the way they handle the situations etc. I also love the relationships between them all.

This book is about power, political games, some romance and friendships. It contains a whopper of an ending and I’m left reeling, knowing I’ll have to wait for book two given book one isn’t even out yet!

If you’re looking for an action packed fantasy, this is the one to pick up!

Castles in Their Bones is set in an original fantasy land, filled with lies, deceit and people who are desperate to have more and more power. On the other hand, it’s also magical and beautiful in the sense that those with abilities are able to make wishes using the stars.

We’re quickly introduced to our three main characters, triplets Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia (Sophie), and the story is told from their alternating viewpoints in third person. Sometimes I do struggle with this, but I found that their personalities and overall mannerisms were so well-written that I could leave the story half-way through a chapter and quickly realise who it was focused on when I went back to it.

Daphne has been raised to be her mother’s daughter, all she wants is to help the Empress to conquer neighbouring lands through her mother’s elaborate scheme, which she started to plan before her daughters were even born. Smart and cunning, she’s experienced at archery and thing like making poisons, perfectly acceptable hobbies for a princess, of course.

Beatriz likes to break the rules and go against their mother as much as possible, she’s been raised as ‘the pretty one’ to use her looks first and foremost to sway men. Her charms have been honed through many lessons with courtesans, including flirting and disguises. I really liked her character, she’s just so confident of herself for the most part! But we also get to see her insecurities at the same time.

Sophie, is adorable. She’s the only sister who had been hopelessly falling for her chosen Prince (though he’s a King by the time she meets and marries him at 16). Her skills are mainly to do with forgeries and her sweet disposition is seen as a failure to her cold-hearted mother.

All three sisters are excellent examples of characters being morally grey. They believe that they’re doing what’s best for their country, albeit after being slightly brainwashed… well, very brainwashed. As a result they’ll lie and do whatever it takes. But there’s so much more to them at the same time.

We’re told a lot about the Empress throughout this first book, with a large focus on how she raised the triplets through lessons on how to basically become agents of her plan from as soon as possible. There are no kind words spoken, aside from Daphne who can’t help but admire what her mother is doing. Although Daphne is essentially seen as the smartest of the three, her loyalty to her mother almost has her blind to anything else.

The Empress continues to work behind the scenes on her plans whilst each daughter has been whisked away to separate countries, with the focus staying on the girls and their circumstances throughout.

But will each girl stick to their plan? Will they be the weapons they’ve been brought up to be, or will they adapt in the freedom from their mother and start to become their own person, with their own dreams?

Those are the kinds of things you’ll be wondering throughout, and you won’t want to put this book down until you have the answers. I’ll admit I generally take forever to read a book longer than around 400 pages, but when I was reading this on a Kindle I didn’t even realise it was so long (528 pages) since I just flew through the story. And the finished copy is so beautiful! Not only is the front cover itself gorgeous, but there’s a beautiful map inside along with family trees for Vesteria, it’s definitely one that will be beautiful in anyone’s collection.

One warning though, the ending to the book will leave you desperate for book two.

Although I very much admired the idea and the worldbuilding of Ash Princess, I ended up not liking the story much - too many characters, too many plot threads, too much to keep track of. So it's ironic, maybe, that this one, with a lot more characters and things going on, enthralled me as completely as it did.

As always, my (lack of) memory for characters kicked in, and as we moved back and forth between the sisters it took me a while to remember who was who, who was married to who, who had which allies and what exactly was going on. This was absolutely no fault of Laura, who created three very distinct kingdoms and groups of people. It's entirely down to me, and this weird disliking my brain has of attaching names to characters.

I loved the story. I've been thinking for a long time that I would love to see a novel where instead of moping about because she doesn't want to marry the guy, the woman gets on with it and uses the considerable power the marriage grants her to start changing things. This novel hits that spot exactly, with the sisters using different methods to further both their mother's overall goal and their own smaller, even day to day ones. Although they start off very similar, the sisters begin to diverge as their individual missions threaten them in different ways.

(Minor note; why is there only one sister on the cover, and which one is she?)

Speaking of the cover, how gorgeous is it? I love the colours and the dress. It's just amazing.

I was surprised that the girls apparently didn't bring so much as a maid with them to their new homes. Surely that would have worked well for their mother's plans? It would have been a help to them, at least. However, that's a minor thing; maybe it was forbidden in the wedding contracts, or their mother thought that depriving them of any reminders of home would make them work harder. I put nothing past her at this point.

I can't wait for the next book in this series, and the third as well. Maybe by the time I finish all three I'll be able to remember which sister is which! (Again, my fault, not Laura...)

Let me premise this by saying....HOLY SMOKES! Yes folks this was a wild and amazing ride that I thoroughly enjoyed!!! I finished this book in two sittings, I could not put it down.

This book as the blurb rightly describes is about three young women who are trained in the art of espionage from birth with the sole purpose of infiltrating the surrounding kingdoms through marriage at the behest of their wicked mother who wished to rule the world! And so they do. However, so many unexpected circumstances arise that the girls did not foresee ranging from love to betrayal to friendship.

In addition to to exploring the individual adventures of the three young women themselves, we are immersed in a fantastic new universe where the stars have the powers to grant wonderful wishes. It is a beautifully woven tale. Absolutely beautiful.

I fell in love with all of the boys, even Nico (despite his betrayal). I look forward to seeing the romance/s unfold between the girls and their beaus. (With a slight exception of course but that friendship is bullet proof at this point unless Nico can redeem himself and arguably he did try...but he must try a little harder in my opinion because the chemistry between Nico and Triz? Too cute for words)

The ending had my jaw dropping I could not believe it! Is it true? I felt it in my very heart! What a loss, what a sacrifice she made for her love! Honestly what an awful mother! I cannot help but wonder what she wishes her legacy to be if she treats her very children so dastardly! The ending was a cliffhanger but not at the same time...it was an ending that has the reader begging for more!

Castle in their Bones was everything and more. I cannot wait to read the second book. What an absolute masterpiece!

I was really looking forwards to Laura Sebastian's next YA trilogy after the ASH PRINCESS series finished and her adult debut, HALF SICK OF SHADOWS - and CASTLES IN THEIR BONES.

I love books full of intrigue, so a book about triplets married off to foreign lands in order to bring them down from within is perfect for me. There are schemes within schemes as the sisters discover there's more to their mother's plans than they were told - or expected. Plus there is everyone else within the countries scheming, just to add more webs to the mix!

I loved trying to pick apart the knots of loyalties and inducements to work out who was working for who, and what it meant for the Empress' plans. Not to mention working out what would be the thing that pushed the sisters over their respective lines to start working for themselves.

Naturally, the sisters' loyalties are tested and have to decide whether to continue with their mother's plan or not. I was a little worried that, for a couple of them, their decision would be made due to falling in love with a boy (after all, YA has a bit of a reputation for that.) However, thankfully, their decisions are about what they want from themselves - and if they can let go of their fears and training to reach for what they want. And then the consequence of doing or not doing that.

The book is written in third person present, which is quite an usual tense/person combination for YA (and SFF, but to a slightly lesser extent.) It's very much the marmite combination for me, working for some books but not others, pretty much falling where it falls on a two-axis literary/not literary and personal/impersonal plot.

It worked for me here, as it was a pretty deep POV (so very personal) but not too literary leaning in style (this tense combo can quite often lends itself to a literary style, but that's often not my preference.) The writing is quiet direct and lets you know exactly how the sisters are feeling - and what choices they're tossing up.#

The ending is quite the cliff-hanger. Part of me wants to believe that there's someway around what it's suggesting, and the other part of me wants it to stand as is. It is <em>such</em> a powerful ending, and if it stands, then it's going completely in the face of what often happens with fiction.

Either way, I am eager for the next book (which doesn't yet have a title or release date at time of writing this!)

Castles In Their Bones follows triplets, Princesses Sophronia, Beatriz and Daphne, who's fates were decided before they were born. At age sixteen each of them will leave their homeland to marry the princes of kingdoms their mother wishes to take over. They have been trained to bring down monarchies and start wars so that their mother can rule the entire continent. But the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.

This book was so good, I've read nothing like this before, it's so unique! It's told from multiple POVs and I loved the growth from each of the sisters as they realise maybe their mother's plan isn't the correct thing to do. All of them are intelligent with skills in finances, coding, poisons and so much more! Bringing down kingdoms through manipulation instead of bloodshed is my favourite thing! Of course there was still plenty of action scenes for those who love them!

The magic system uses stars, with certain people being able to wish on them. I thought it was really interesting and have a feeling it will be a big part of the next book. The plot was so well thought out with so many twists and the ending was so unexpected. I'm still not over it and am not looking forward to the wait for the next book. It was honestly incredible and I definitely recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to review Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian.

I am a big fan of Laura Sebastian's work, especially the Ash princess trilogy. And when I heard that she was writing Castles in their Bones, I was very excited, and I went in reading this book with exceptionally high expectations.
And Laura Sebastian did not fail it! This book, despite the high expectations I had set for it, had exceeded all that I had in mind! It was absolutely amazing, spellbinding, and that conclusion, as cursed as it made me feel, was incredible!

Castles in their Bones is about three triplets called Daphne, Sophronia, and Beatriz, born from the mother of Bessemia, Empress Margaraux. At the age of sixteen, they must leave their country and marry their princes that they were allied with since they were born.
The triplets were raised to be perfect, smart, and powerful - because every girl is underestimated.
They were also trained since birth to bring down the country that they would rule and win over through the princes. And their marriages is the first step for the Empress to corrupt the realm of Vesteria into her own palm.

I loved the multiple POV's. It was interesting to see the points and perspectives of all of the siblings and what they ent through with their princes and each operate country. It was so cool seeing them all completing their goals that they were born to do. Each character has their own life and do their own thing, but they are all linked together in one big plan of the Empress.
I loved each and every triplet. They all had their differences but they were all strong-willed characters with interesting back-stories. I also loved how the plot went with the characters, and how they were all linked and connected.
And that conclusion as absolutely shocking and amazing! I did not expect it and I was utterly surprised and sad, and I had truly been broken at the end.
Laura Sebastian really does know how to end a book with a high note that will keep you speculating as to what would happen next, and one that would keep you waiting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC.
This book was a real rollercoaster of feelings. This is the second book I'd been reading by this author. And it did not disappoint. Every sister is her own character, they are their own person with their own beliefs. Although they are triplets Sophronia, Beatriz and Daphne couldn't be any more different.
The book follows each sister as they try to navigate married life in a new country. Along the way, they learn that they can't trust anyone. Not even themselves.
But this should not be a problem. Because they were raised for this task. Or were they?
I really loved the writing of the book. The way how we were able to follow each sister. And let's not forget the plot twists. I knew (from the author's Instagram) that there would be a huge cliffhanger. And it did not disappoint. The plot twists are superb. They leave you hoping and worrying for the characters. As I'm writing this I'm still in shock. And I can't wait to read more. This book is witty and brilliant. I can only recommend it. It's amazing.

Getting an early copy of one of my most anticipated books of the year was such a joy. It was a book that I had to read as soon as I could get my hands on it and would have read in one sitting if I’d had the time. So I just read it in two instead. Considering that this book has 511 pages, that’s pretty impressive for me.

This is the first book in a new trilogy by Laura Sebastian. I loved her Ash Princess trilogy and also have a copy of Half Sick of Shadows to read at some point. I adore all her work and let me tell you, this book is definitely worth reading.

Castles In Their Bones follows three princesses: Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia. They were raised by their mother to marry into specific countries, to lead them to war. Empress Margaraux wished on a star to have her daughters, and she trained them to bring down the other monarchies. Separated for the first time in their lives, the princesses all learn more about themselves and the very countries they’re supposed to bring down.

So this is a very political court fantasy, and I love that. You follow three princesses who are getting used to new courts and are plotting treason. Following all three characters meant that the reader learns about and experiences these different countries and courts. Each felt very different, and the political situations were too. I will say that only one of the characters actually has any political say and makes a change in her country, and she was actually my favourite. I loved seeing this timid character come into her own and change the situation as she thought that was the right thing to do.

I did like all three characters, but I found that I liked Daphne the least. Ironically though, I enjoyed her romance best. I love to have some fighting and banter before the romance happens, and I certainly got that with her and Bairre. They were so much fun, and I look forward to seeing them in the next book. I don’t usually use quotes in reviews, but since I have a finished copy to share from, I just have to:

***

“If you’re hoping to kill me, you need to work on your aim.”

“If I were hoping to kill you,” she tells him, nocking another arrow, “poison would be far less conspicuous. Less messy too.”

Castles In Their Bones – Laura Sebastian (pg.267)

***

Sebastian actually shared this quote on her Twitter a while ago, and it was the quote that made me excited for this book. This chemistry is just everything I need, and I love it so much.

The magic system in this book is pretty interesting. All these cultures worship the stars, and certain people can pull the stars to earth by simply making a wish at night. The stars can be pulled down for others to wish on the stardust too, and it’s considered pretty powerful magic. This isn’t something I’ve really seen in a fantasy novel before, and I liked it. We don’t get to see much of the magic used in this book, but it did make for an interesting religious culture across all four countries. I’m hoping in the next book we’ll get to explore the magic system more, but consider me fascinated.

I adored this book so much, and I cannot wait until next year to get the second. Especially not after that ending. Oh boy…I really need to find out what happens now. Sebastian really knows how to write a good political fantasy, and this one packs a punch with intriguing magic systems and decent action too.

This is going to be a series that I’m obsessed with, and I’m pretty sure that almost every one of you will be too.