Fans of Zen Cho’s Sorcerer Royal series, and C.L. Polk’s Kingston Cycle will be thrilled by the latest work by Polk herself: The Midnight Bargain.

The Midnight Bargain tells the story of Beatrice, a young woman of prodigious magical skill who is trapped in a society that suspends a woman’s magical abilities for the sake of protecting her potential unborn children, whether the woman is willing or not.

This story is rich and exciting, full of magic and spirits, and luxurious descriptions of clothing, food, and spell casting. As is her style, Polk drops the reader headlong into the action without bothering to explain every piece of information first, to great effect. The world feels lived in, rather than fabricated, with richness to the various cultures that populate the world Beatrice inhabits.

The characters are charming and flawed, with sympathetic villains, as well as truly despicable ones, and heroes who make mistakes and behave selfishly at times, alongside their more remarkable, selfless moments.

This deeply feminist story is not one of particular subtlety. Yet it does not suffer for this. Seeing pro-choice arguments so deliciously laid out on the page in the midst of this textured, magical land is satisfying and inspiring. The writing is sharp and clever, and the love story is romantic and lovely. Another excellent addition to the works of the brilliant C.L. Polk.

Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGaey for the ARC.

This book covered a few different genres: fantasy, historical fiction and romance to name three. It's quite an interesting story where our protagonist Beatrice is being depended on to make a marriage match during the marriage bargaining season that takes place in this one town. Her family is in some dire financial situation and what money they have has been invested in her hopeful marriage. Except Beatrice doesn't want to marry because she wants to be a mage and do great things with her magic. In this universe, women must wear a collar when they marry to stamp out the magic for fear of terrible things happening with pregnancy. So women are pretty much controlled by their husbands from the time they are married using this fear and they aren't allowed to learn and practice magic in the way men are. Which really brings in a bit of dystopian feminist fiction.

It's quite an enjoyable story overall. There is romance involved but honestly it's fairly secondary to the rest of the story. I did find the pacing at the end was a bit faster than necessary although it didn't detract too much from the overall story. Just that it seemed to be trying to get finished all of a sudden.

Overall I give this 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon books for sharing an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

CL Polk's newest work is a fantasy romance that turns a Cinderella story on its head. Beatrice is an aspiring magician that wants nothing more than to bind herself to a greater spirit and become a mage. For now, she has a lesser spirit, Nadi, who will help her until midnight for the cost of some food, dancing, and a kiss. Enter one Ianthe, mage-in-training and eligible bachelor, along with his sister, Ysbeta.

This work had quite a lot of social commentary centered around feminism and the role of women in society. I do feel the need to include a content warning for readers regarding a lot of discussion of pregnancy and women as primarily child-bearers. This is central to the plot of the book.

That being said, I enjoyed the magic system as presented and enjoyed the interactions of spirits with their hosts. I might have enjoyed to hear more of Ianthe's perspective, but understand that the message of the book could be seen as more powerful without it.

I look forward to reading Polk's backlist and to any future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Bargain follows Beatrice Clayborn, a young woman whose sole desire in the world is to become a powerful sorceress and help save her family from her father's financial mistakes/bad decisions. This could be easy enough if she can become a magus, but unfortunately only the men of her land are allowed to bind to a greater spirit. Women are expected to marry, then immediately submit to wearing a collar that dampens their magic and emotions so that their future children will never be at risk of being possessed by said spirits. Can Beatrice find a way to save her magic before she is forced to marry?

This book flips upside down the stereotypes of the Disney-esque fairytales we grew up on and have learned to accept without question. A girl with a tragic backstory falls in love with a handsome prince and they marry and live happily ever after. What if the princes weren't the heroes, but the villains? What about the women who want to achieve their dreams first? Or the ones who don't want to marry at all?

I enjoyed the fresh take on a typical fairytale trope. I loved that there was asexual/aromantic representation, which may be one of the first times I've ever seen it in YA, much less historical fiction. I also liked that, in general, magic is seen as prestigious and not something to be hidden. That was an interesting switch from the usual plot of mages/witches/sorcerers always practicing in secret.

What bothered me most about the book was the punctuation for the internal dialogue/thoughts. Instead of using italics, or even apostrophes, they were marked with colons like: " :Put that back!: All I could read were the ":P" emoticons and would have to re-read most of the sentences. It was jarring and pulled my attention from the story.

The characters all had a strong personal motive, which I enjoyed! Unfortunately, it felt like even by the ending there isn't much more to connect with the characters. Beatrice had red hair and was determined to learn magic and re-establish a fortune for her family at all costs. I don't feel I gleaned anything else other than that she owns a violon and has red hair. I would have like to learned more about them.

In the end, this was a fun read and there were a few little plot twists at the end that I found interesting as well! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction mixed with magic and a dose of adventure.

I loved this book and I can't stop recommending it! It has the social commentary, romance and atmosphere of Jane Austen meets the feminist horror of Handmaid's Tale. I am typically a slow reader, but I devoured almost the whole book in a weekend. The characters of Beatrice, Ysbeta, Ianthe, Harriet and in particular Nadi really lept off the page. This book was quite a read and it empowered me to have my own 'smash the patriarchy' moment. Five stars!

Regency romance, feminism, and some old school occult-style magic? I’m in! I was so excited to get a chance to read The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk and it did not disappoint!

As a fan of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, I love to see when authors take the regency romance and twist it with new ideas. Polk did that and more. There is so much to love about this book – especially for witchy types like myself. Despite being in a fantasy world, I could see not only Austenian references but also the influence of occult secret societies like the Golden Dawn in this book’s commentary about the role of women in high society. There is also the realistic back and forth about lower class women and upper class women that calls to the early suffragist and women’s work movements. All that added with Beatrice’s knowledge of trade gave the book’s fantasy so much realism, I never questioned the way magic works in this world.

The romance creates a lot of warm and fuzzy moments but also hypes up my anxiety for the characters. While some books that try and make the main character feel stuck between a rock and a hard place feel contrived, I genuinely never saw a good way out for Beatrice until the end. I was CONCERNED, y’all. It kept me reading until low and behold I’d binged the whole book in a day. I’m already planning to re-read so I can better grasp the drama that I just experienced.

The ending of the book did have a couple of things that felt contrived.
*Spoiler Warning*
While I am always a fan of the happily ever after, the parents fighting with Ysbeta, Ianthe, and Beatrice then deciding to support their kids…it felt contrived. Perhaps my own experiences and seeing the lives of other people who have issues getting along with parents…but I just can’t grasp it. Personally, Mr. Clayborn can come on the boat to be thrown off and take a big drink. Its the only part of the book that made my eyes roll.

While we’re in spoiler territory, I did like that Polk didn’t stick to too many stereotypes of Regency romance that I’ve seen – specifically the misunderstandings carrying on or the heroine holding a secret that could destroy her reputation for half a book. When Beatrice is threatened by Danton so that he can try and secure his sister’s interest, she tells Ianthe and I applaud the scene.
*End Spoilers*

From world development to characters I adored to a plot that urged me to turn the next page – The Midnight Bargain was an excellent journey.

Fans of Galen Beckett’s The Magician and Mrs. Quent as well as fantasy readers who also enjoy Austen and Bronte will LOVE The Midnight Bargain.

I enjoyed this story. It has an interesting magical construct and good world development. I'm personally a little burned out by the patriarchy right now, so it was tough to read yet another story where women were purposefully kept from information and learning. I guess that was the point though, so I shant hold it against the author.

The Midnight Bargain follows Beatrice, a young girl who's entering her first bargaining season, during which she is supposed to court a gentleman and eventually marry. The only problem is that she doesn't want to forfeit her freedom and most importantly her magic. But the decision to stay away from the matrimonial life and to pursue magic instead is put to question when she meets Ianthe Lavan, with whom she falls hopelessly in love with.

I've never read anything by C.L. Polk, but her previous works are quite well regarded among the readers and were nominated/won some awards. Unfortunately, I had more issues with the novel than I would like to. The premise was interesting enough for me to pick it up, but the execution was disappointing, to say the least. And it took me months to finish it, which is never a good sign, is it?

First of all, I found the magic system to be confusing and poorly explained. Until the grand finale, I didn't really know how the summoning or becoming a Mage works. Second, the characters were underdeveloped and simply flat, with one big desire to drive them forward (maybe except for Beatrice who represents the main conflict of the story). Also, the setting was rather bland and the few locations seemed disconnected. Third, I struggled with the pacing of the story. I barely could get through the first half of the novel, where nothing much happened apart from long conversations and going back and forth between places. The repetitiveness of the conversations between the characters, especially the main trio also didn't help.

Only later, towards the end, the story becomes more and more interesting and engaging. Moreover, it ends right when it's gaining speed. I wanted to read about Beatrice and the Lavan siblings' adventures, but instead, the epilogue cuts to when they already have the solution to all their problems. Sigh.

The ending itself was far from what I'd imagined, with little to no drama and everyone happy, and when everything falls into place so seamlessly and everyone ends up more or less content it doesn't seem realistic for me, sorry.

Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as I would like to, but I appreciate the feminist' ideas expressed by the main character, even though the utopia she found for herself seemed too optimistic.

Jane Austen meets Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, And readers of Zen Cho's Sorcerer to the Queen and Jonathan Stroud's Bartimeus trilogy will also love this story of Regency manners and English magic. Beatrice Clayborn, who lives not far from the Bennett sister's home village of Meryton, is a powerful magician, who if she marries as she must to save her family from poverty, will have her magic locked up to protect any future children being possessed by the elementals that all magicians must bond to. She's also not allowed to be trained officially - that's kept only for men, Beatrice is torn between her feelings for her handsome suitor Ianthe Lavan and fear of what accepting love and marriage and financial security will mean for the loss of her desire to be a great magician. What would Elizabeth Bennett have done? Beatrice is not a ,million miles away from Elizabeth in character (and maybe a bit of Becky Sharp's opportunism in her too) and her adventure towards a finding a new and radical to the problem, both for women in her society and for how English magic is practised in the future is interesting and exciting. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

In a world of fancy clothes and firmly established rules for socializing, where women belong to their father or husband, and aristocracy can practice magic via binding a spirit to them, our main character seeks to escape the physical shackle of the marital collar.

‘The Midnight Bargain’ is a slow-paced tale of Beatrice’s pursuit of equal rights for women, so that they need not have their magic suppressed for their entire marriage, just to keep their unborn children safe from spirits stealing their souls. Beatrice first encounters Ysbeta Lavan and her brother, Ianthe, early in the story, in a bookstore where both ladies wish to purchase a grimoire which may hold the key to avoiding ending up in a marriage; how to make the Great Bargain and bind with a Greater Spirit.

We watch the girls work together to learn from one another, as the aristocratic men trained in official magic houses try to woo both the marriable young ladies and their fathers.

Like the other young men, Ianthe Lavan wants to end Bargaining Season with a wife, but to his credit he is always kind and fair. When he falls for Beatrice, he really does try to see things from her perspective and attempts to better understand his sister’s hesitation to become a wife. The vast differences between Ianthe’s education and freedoms, compared to what little Ysbeta is permitted to do, is the perfect illustration for the gap between men and women’s rights and how each are treated.

It may help the reader to stick with this book to know that the plot speeds up towards the end, and the Epilogue is rather satisfying,

I went into this book expecting a lovely romance because Polk is especially good at romances–and this was delivered! But I didn’t expect to get completely fired up by the feminist aspects of the book, and that’s exactly what happened here. Come for the romance, stay for the feminism.

First I want to touch on the world-building. There are clearly things that are mirrored on our own world even though the world is wholly fantastical. This helps the reader to fill in certain blanks and I have to say I really appreciate this type of world building the most because I tend to get lost if there are too many new details I need to remember. There is a sort of marriage mart season that will feel familiar to readers of historical romances or Austen, along with societal expectations, propriety, assemblies, dances, carriages, etc. The magical aspect of the world is firmly entrenched into every aspect of the world-building and also the themes of the book. As far as the world it’s not as important what the magic can do as who can do it and when and why. Because there is some danger with women who are able to practice magic exposing their unborn to spiritual possession during pregnancy, women’s ability to practice magic has been severely restricted. This is accomplished by women being (forced) to wear a magical collar that cuts off their abilities. This is just the way things are and everyone accepts it (except of course not everyone is on board with this). While women do have more or less power within the different societies, they have little choice in their marriages and these marriages are negotiated to either secure powerful alliances in business/society or for…uh…breeding purposes because of their magical potential. Yeah…….no thanks.

With all of that in mind, enter our main character, Beatrice Clayborn. She wants nothing more to become a Mage but of course this will always be denied to her. This doesn’t stop her from trying. And soon she meets another young woman who also wishes to become a Mage and is willing to do almost anything to escape marriage altogether. I really loved Beatrice! She’s a character that sticks to her guns no matter what. At one point she is torn because she realizes she’s falling in love, but she’s determined not to ‘settle’ for something because she knows, even if that life is the best she might expect from society in its current state, that it’s not right. She could easily have just taken that easy way out but she refused to accept it. And it wasn’t just for her own sake but because she wanted to make a stand for other women as well. At the end of the day she has to make the toughest decision of her life and my heart completely broke for her in that moment.

I also really enjoyed the Lavan siblings. I’ll admit it took me a little longer to warm up to Ysbeta because she’s so cold to Beatrice at first. Later you come to realize how dire of a situation she’s been in and why she’s so determined not to let anyone, even Beatrice, stand in her way of finding a solution. Ianthe, of course, is lovely. He’s not perfect, of course, because even though he loves his sister and ‘does his best’ to help her, he doesn’t really get it. He can’t fully comprehend what it’s like for these women. He’s an ally. But he’s not an ally. At one point I was like ‘dear Ianthe, sweet Ianthe, I love you but shut your fool mouth because you have no idea of what you speak’. I was happy when he finally realized that, right, he didn’t get it but he was going to do his best to understand going forward and support those leading the way for change. If only everyone in the world would be like Ianthe we would have a much better world!

This book is full of the kind of bullshit sexism and injustices that make me so angry that had this not been an ebook I would have thrown it across the room in a fit of rage. There were things in this book that made my blood boil. And there were incredible moments of heartbreak that broke me down into tears. There is one scene in particular where you really feel the horror and despair of Beatrice and Ysbeta at the very thought of being collared that really affected me. I can’t get that scene out of my mind because of how it made me feel. But this is a book about change, about standing up for what you believe in and actually doing things to force a change. If people don’t want to change, too bad, some others will and those people will stand up too and eventually things will change. This is the beginning of people being tired of hiding in the shadows and demanding change.

Now, if this book had one negative for me, it’s the relationships that both Beatrice and Ysbeta have with one of their parents. Beatrice’s father and Ysbeta’s mother are incredibly controlling and fully prepared (and actively trying to) force their daughters into marriages that they don’t want just for their own means. For me, this is unforgivable. Of course, I am of an unforgiving nature so maybe this is a personal issue of my own. But I will say that I felt let down when both parents suddenly had a change of heart at the end and were seemingly forgiven for their previous behaviors. In my mind they had stepped across a line that would make me cut someone off for good. But, again, that’s just me.

Overall, I really loved this book. The romance was sweet and heartbreaking and lovely and the themes of the story are clear and filled with all the rage that such topics deserve. 5/5 stars.

NOTE: This review will be live on my blog on 9/29 - https://waytoofantasy.com/2020/09/29/book-review-the-midnight-bargain-by-c-l-polk/

The Midnight Bargain combines magic, fantasy and romance into a marvelous story. Beatrice Clayborn's journey pulls you in and weaves fully realized characters into a story that builds in suspense until a conclusion that leaves you wanting more. In the world of Chasland and Llanandras, magic and being a mage is a privilege for men. A woman with strong magical ability only has value as a potential wife and producer of children who inherit her power, while she is forbidden from using magic herself. The book flows with themes of consent, privilege, power and the right to choose one's own path in life. You will root for Beatrice in her fight to control her own destiny and marvel at the descriptions of Chasland, the mansions and all the parties. This book is so visually descriptive, especially for the astounding dresses that Beatrice and Ysbeta wear. The relationship between Beatrice and Nadi is delightful, as is Ianthe's relationship with Ysbeta. The story builds and builds in intensity to a truly satisfying conclusion. A fabulous read for anyone who loves magic, romance and a wonderfully written fantasy world.

The Midnight Bargain is about Beatrice, a young woman who is about to begin her first bargaining season. The problem with that is, she doesn't want to find a partner as it would mean giving up the one thing she loves most - magic. She must find a way to bargain with a strong enough spirit to protect her family from financial ruin or find a husband that will take care of their debts but be confined to a collar that prevents her from doing magic again. With time running out, Beatrice must find a solution that will save both her family and her magic.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I loved reading about Beatrice's spirit and the mischief that it gets her into. However, this book goes a lot into gender inequality as well. Beatrice is a character that was willing to fight against social norms and willing to sacrifice so much for her family. The epilogue wasn't my favorite, but I liked the rest of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This is MARVELOUS and easily one of my favorite books of the year. It is a standalone with strong female characters a compelling plot, welcome diversity, and a neat magic system.

Beatrice has been primped and primed for her first bargaining season in which debutantes and eligible bachelors gather in the hopes of arranging marriage. Beatrice is a catch despite per family's lack of wealth: she's unusually strong in magic, a good sign her children will be as well. But Beatrice doesn't want to be married and trapped in a collar that will suppress her magic for the protection of any children she's carrying: she wants to prove that she has the power to be a formidable magician herself. When she meets another young woman with similar aims who absconds with the grimoire Beatrice needs, we're thrust into a whirlwind plot of glittering social events, hidden plotting, and dangerous magic.

I love not only the inclusion of people of color but how they are portrayed: fully fleshed characters with their own hopes, dreams, and faults from a complex and beautiful society. A model for other books to follow.

This is a beautiful, compelling book you can read on multiple levels. The hard choices Beatrice is faced with feel real with high stakes. Highly recommended.

The Midnight Bargain talks about a world where the women upon getting married are given a collar that forbids them from practising magic and makes their whole world seem dull. Beatrice has practised magic for years in secret, but now the time came for her to marry because of her family’s debt. The whole book is basically the question of whether Beatrice will choose magic or she will marry a man who stole her heart.

I really enjoyed the world-building and the magic system. It was interesting to see how magic is based basically on spirits. When it comes to spirits, I really enjoyed the appearance of Nadi. She was a fun addition to the book and made some scenes seem lighter than they really were. I also liked the language the author used because everything sounded a bit medieval, and it made it easier for me to get into the book.

When it comes to the characters, they seemed a little flat to me. We don’t really get to know them, their interests or emotions. We are only let into the dilemmas different characters face. I expected to find out more about Beatrice since she was the main character. I didn’t like Ysbeta at all – she was selfish, and she considered herself the most important person in the world (even though other girls faced the same problems), also she was rude to Beatrice for no reason. I quite liked Ianthe, though again his character was quite flat. The romance between Beatrice and Ianthe was instant, and I didn’t really get it their love because they spent so little time together, and they only ever discussed the magic and the role of women in the society.

I’m kind of mad at the ending for no reason – it was a perfectly reasonable ending, however, I like bittersweet endings instead of happy ones.

*received a free ecopy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The Midnight Bargain combines magic with historical fiction as Polk weaves a regency England inspired world where married women must give up magic. Beatrice Clayborn is about to enter bargaining season, when all eligible young ladies are presented to society to secure husbands, but she dreads the idea of giving up magic. Luckily for her, she chances upon Ianthe and Ysbeta Lavan, two foreign nobles sympathetic to her plight, and with the help of a chaotic spirit named Nadi, she hunts for a solution to her dilemma.

The book is painfully slow at first, admittedly. It took me a long time to push past the initial first half, when lords and ladies are just sitting around talking posh. Thankfully, the latter half is perfectly paced, with plenty of high stakes and tumultuous moments for the trio. I will say that some of the interactions and plot beats felt redundant at times, as some conversations seemed to reiterate established points.

That being said, the characters are charming. Ysbeta is fun, Beatrice is unwavering, and Ianthe is a nice boy if a bit uninformed/privileged. Still, Nadi was the star of the show and I like her the most.

I enjoyed the social commentary of how men find all sorts of reasons to keep women from power, and seeing Beatrice and Ysbeta strive for the independence to seek greatness was cathartic. Ianthe seemed to exist as a way for Beatrice to discuss her political views, and as a result felt a little bland, so their romance was underdeveloped and rushed in my opinion. Still, it is nice to have characters like Ianthe sympathetic to their cause. I also appreciate the themes of teen rebellion, how children are meant to exist as individuals and not tools for their own parents to barter with.

Unfortunately, some characters didn’t feel very balanced. Henry Clayborn, Beatrice’s father, alternates between being a well-meaning if incompetent father and being genuinely awful, especially with regards to some decisions he makes later on. With the way he is, the ending of the story doesn’t make that much sense, and I actually got the sense that things would end differently. Harriet, Beatrice’s sister, seemed to flip between emotions too conveniently just for the sake of getting Beatrice to react a certain way. And Mrs. Tarden felt a bit inconsistent as well.

Overall I enjoyed this book, and would recommend to anyone who feels like having some magic with their Jane Austen.

"From the beloved World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss...with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries - even for love - she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?"

Could it be? Dare I hope? A new Regency Magic book!?!

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕀 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕
❶ I loved the main character! K so this is a fantasy, YA? I think? book. So you know you’re going to get a strong headed lead female that knows what she wants. Loved her.
➋ I really enjoyed the world that Polk weaves, the costumes, finger foods, activities, magic, it’s fun!
➌ I 100% wish was there for the epilogue. Love a good ending!
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𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔹𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕕 𝕄𝕖 𝕆𝕦𝕥
❶ A little repetitive. But hear me out. In some cases I think this is good and this is one of those times. The story is about female repression and there is a lot a lot a lot of her dad and others saying you can’t do this, you can’t behave like that etcc. It’s exhausting for the reader but guess what? That makes you empathize more with the main character since it’s frustrating and exhausting for them so I get it. I think it works but just be warned!
➋ It would have been so fun to hear from a different characters point of view. Like the little sister maybe? Someone who you aren’t sure what side they are on.
➌ The whole love at first sight thing was a little much for me. But I get it, if it’s YA ya all are drooling over some unexplained romance.
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In summary: Super cute book with a strong message. It reminded me of The Night Circus or Caraval. If you’re into fantasy you’ll love it ♥️

This was an enjoyable read! Overall, I liked the setting and the characters, even though the relationships felt a little rushed at times or they didn't make sense. The epilogue wasn't my favourite but the end of the story was very satisfactory, As well, the magic system didn't make a lot of sense until the very end, and even then I was still confused about some of the rules. I would definitely recommend this to readers just starting in the fantasy/magical realism genre.