Lin’s chapters are full of intrigue and espionage and honestly, even though I guessed some of the plot twists before they were revealed, some of them took me completely by surprise.

One day, Jovis plucks a strange creature out of water, and the strange creature plucks him out of a grief so vast Jovis can't see its edges.I think what also really worked for me was this sense of foreboding and suspense that hung over me the entire book. The geographic background of islands that move with the seasons is quite original, as is the system of magic by which it is ruled. But I'll confess, before reading this novel I thought Lin was going to be the one with a f/f relationship, and then when I learned she wasn't .

Even in books, most societies still frown on lgbtq+ individuals which reflects our real world of course. Ranami is also involved in a group planning a rebellion against Palue’s father, so that creates some issues in their couple too. To create such distinct characters in a multi-voiced narrative is no easy feat, but Stewart genuinely makes it look effortless. Set in a world where animal-like constructs are brought to life with the destructive bone shard magic that drains the lives of the Empire’s citizens, it is an immersive story that becomes more and more chilling as it explores magic, memory, privilege, and, most of all, power. Not only does it deftly weave what initially seems like five separate stories together into something powerful and thrilling, the novel contains precisely the sort of compelling characters and rich worldbuilding that make this genre so much fun to read in the first place - Den of Geek You may also be interested in.with remnants of an ancient Alanga civilisation that was defeated by a Sukai, who became the first Emperor of the islands.