The idea behind this book is not a new one. A society divided by a class system which dictates the future of its members.

All in all I had a hard time following the whole plot due to the sheer amount of characters.

It was not a bad read but I unfortunately did not connect with the protagonist and therefore was not emotionally involved.

If you however like reading about dystopian class society with a broad spectrum of diverse people, try it out. It might not have been my cup of tea, but maybe it is yours.

I received this book as an ARC and I DNF at page 209 of 347.

There's a lot I can say and will try, but to summarize it's a book with an amazing worldbuilding, a barely existing plot and what exists is quite boring.

The setting is quite in-depth, with all the kinds of family magic (Talents) and not, with a rich design in clothing and culture. On that nothing to say, a magnificent example.
The problem is that the setting is the only thing: even the mysteries, the problems, and the main plot are the setting.
The storyline is moved mainly by coincidence or by the protagonist revealing her secret to random people who all happen to be trustworthy. In general, the friendships that aren't pre-book are based on one or two interactions that suddenly are ride-or-die friendships.

Also, this book was in the LGBT+ section so I suppose at some point there will be a queer relationship, but at 2/3 of the book there is no romance, so IDK. Or so I hope, bc the only "queer thing" is a VERY secondary character that uses they/them pronouns and I'm sure if in the context of the story that is a queer/gender thing or cultural thing so...
Also, just a vibe, but the protagonist developing her secondary magical power with her first menstruation was just eh. Especially since the powers themselves are little more than an excuse to give her some extra info when needed but also aren't used when it would make sense (like to check if she was followed when she knew it was risky)
I suppose it has something to do with the feminist theme, but eh.

To go to back the plot, there is no plot. Well, not really, but the plot starts so late and I'm still not sure where it wants to go: the underlying story is Aza has an extra set of powers and that it is weird, but also there is war among the upper class, but not really; her father doesn't talk to her, but neither does she; her best friend gets kidnapped but not really; she has a love interest, no she doesn't not; is all of this linked? Eh, yeah maybe by the fact that they're all bad at communication and somehow she hasn't left her workplace in 14 years.
And suddenly, there is a death and she runs and now she's a rebel and freedom fighter ready to start a revolution.

Will we have so answers in the third part? Probably. Do I care? Not anymore. Not when the first 150 pages were things happening randomly to the protagonist and the 100 pages after are about a different character, bc Aza has a character growth - with extra powerup and a new personality- in the meantime and we don't get to see anything of that!

To conclude, I can not do it anymore and this will go in the rare category of I didn't finish bc I didn't even care to have some answers.

This was a book full of chaos, with lans where each specialises in a form of magic and hierarchy between the reigning clan and the others is causing chaos.

Full of found family, we follow a mere Gen girl called Aza amongst the chaos trying to change the status quo and make society more fair and equal.

It's heartbreaking as we grieve friends and family lost to various causes but is an interesting set up to what will be a unique series with wild magic, political infighting, and more.