A YA fantasy set in the not!Silla period of Korean history (but very Silla-inspired) - a much neglected period filled with incredible potential for fiction so of course I snapped it up. I loved the level of detail of the culture and politics at play.

Some things got confusing - it never was entirely clear to me exactly who the Big Bad was, or even whether that was the whole point. And it didn't even pretend to be a standalone novel, ending on a cliffhanger that felt like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a book.

But it was worth it for the journey along the way. ( )

I am so grateful to have received a copy of this incredible book!

It has become increasing hard for me to find a book which really captures my attention with both plot and characters but this book perfectly captures that!

It is a book rich in everything you’d want in fantasy, with a very interesting magic system, interesting cast of characters and intriguing history. If I could go and reread this book, I absolutely was.

Mirae was a treat to read about and her relationship with her siblings meant so much to me. She’s a realistic portrayal of a character her age and in her circumstance. For that, I applaud the author for how well she’s done.

The elemental magic system is what I ended up loving. The author never left me confused about what was going on with it. ( )