I was initially drawn to this book on account of the seriously gorgeous cover, and I'm so glad I decided to request it. This series has a ton of potential and I loved the setup of the world. I'm super interested in learning about the world on the other side of the portal, as well as more about Ruying's world. These characters are the definition of morally gray, and the enemies-to-lovers romance is perfect. Unlike a lot of characters who are supposed to be morally gray, Ruying and Antony actually are. This made for such a complicated dynamic between the two characters, and I'm so excited to see how it develops in the next books.

This was an absolutely marvelous fantasy read! This is my first time reading a book from this author and she did a tremendous job in world-building, flushing out the story with dramatic points, and beautiful characters that are not only relatable, but leave a long-lasting impression on you. The romance was also positively wonderful and kept me consuming the pages at every turn! I cannot recommend this book enough to fellow readers who love a well-done romance with enchanting world-building and words that keep a strong hold on your heart.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Ruyling’s world has been taken over by others. They are cruel and vicious and have no mercy. But she is gifted by Death. Will she use it to save her family? Or her home?

I really enjoyed this book, especially the magic and all the conflict Ruyling felt throughout the book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, never knowing who she should trust and what the right moves to make are. I am really looking forward to the next book!

I really enjoyed reading this book, and had a hard time putting it down, While some of the main premises of this work are ones I've seen quite frequently lately (girl with special magic that's been disappearing from the world is put into a situation where she must decide how to use her powers to protect her world from the ramifications of violent colonization while dealing with conflicts over a problematic love interest), this story still feels fresh and unique. The use of sci-fi elements might be what sets it apart, as we learn about the proponents of science who have invaded Ruying's world via a portal torn into the sky, and their reasons for doing so. This book has a lot to say, both about their worlds and ours, and I'm really looking forward to reading the next volumes in this series as well as following this author's future works. What a great debut novel!