I have been wanting to read this book for some time. I read Hellisen’s Beastkeeper and loved it and immediately looked for other books by her. There was a lot I liked about this story; the world, the characters, and the interesting writing style which is lyrical and yet somehow passive and a bit ambiguous.

This is an interesting world with a heroine that has a somewhat typical historical issue; she is slated for an arranged marriage that she wants to escape. I loved the way magic was handled and found Felicita, Jannik and Dash to be intriguing characters; although I would have liked to get to know them all a bit better.

While the world is interesting, in the end I kept feeling like not much had happened and was left wondering what the point was. The story is just written in a way that is kind of passive yet still reads as being beautiful and magical. It’s a unique writing style but doesn’t come across as very urgent.

Overall this was a quick read and I enjoyed it. However, I am still absorbing some of the story I think and will have to determine at a later date whether or not I will continue the series and continue reading Hellisen as an author. I keep finding myself thinking about the story but also find myself thinking that the writing was a bit simplistic for me and could have been filled out more. ( )

Think steampunk meets supernatural meets Dickens; and you have the beginnings of the feel of this book. It is wholly unlike anything I've read to date. I couldn't put this book down and am sorely disappointed about how long I must wait for the next installment. ( )

Striking. ( )

I enjoyed this book, though I found myself confused on where it was going, at times. The author sets up a world where it seems very Victorian, where women are controlled by their families and married off - but the heroine displays attitudes that seem very at odds with this. Not that I have anything against heroines who speak up for themselves, I just would have liked to feel like there was a bit more of a background and progression.

I didn't connect quite as well with the characters as I would have liked - and again, that's because its direction confused me, at times. I felt as though the author was leaning towards a love triangle, but then didn't, and the ending of the book was not at all what I had expected.

Still, I enjoyed the world and a lot of elements of the story, and if there are other books to come, hopefully the author will have worked through the unevenness. ( )

I read this book on a five hour flight. I raced through it, there was no way that I was going to land and not have finished it. This is the absolute best story I have read about magic in many years. Not only was the story perfectly plotted, the language and phrases used were so beautiful I could feel my teeth getting cavities. The author’s words had me feeling things along with the characters and desperately wanting their stories to have a happily ever after. I have never felt such despair, or hope.

Weeks later I am still thinking about the characters and their plights. I am still thinking about the writing and the use of language and I am hoping and waiting for something else from this author. I am in instant fan.

Blurb: Set in a magical world on the brink of a new age Cat Hellisen guides the reader through the turmoil with expert hands. You do not want to miss this tantalizing debut. ( )