4.5*
Well, what a surprising little gem this book was! The premise sounded fun when I first read it, sure, but the execution certainly lived up to it- and then some. This is pretty much going to be a list of junk I liked, because I really liked this one and kind of flew through it. My only negative would be a few predictable spots, and long chapters (but that sounds a little nitpicky, doesn't it?) but otherwise? I loved!
Why I Loved It:
- So. Freaking. Funny. Zera is just too amusing, I loved her internal dialogue. She's at times self-deprecating, which honestly just went to show how much of a non-monster she really was. She's the kind of character I don't ever get bored reading about because she's always coming up with something entertaining about basically any situation- even in the worst of times. It brought levity to a book that otherwise could have been really dark.
- The world-building and the plot felt really fresh. I mean, sure there are aspects that are similar from other fantasies, but the magical system was interesting (and I am not usually a huge fan, so that says a lot), and the story just felt like it wasn't the "same old".
- The relationships in this book, oh my! I can't even explain how much I adored some of Zera's relationships! From her fierce protection of her fellow Heartless, to her budding relationship with her "aunt", at every turn Zera was making real, genuine connections with people and they made the story that much more exciting- likely because the stakes are higher when you care about the characters. Speaking of...
- I loved basically every single side character. Even the more villainous types I loved to hate. I don't even want to give much away, but wow, this book's character game is strong. And not just the main characters, even the more minor characters are really well fleshed out.
- Sets up book 2 really well. I need it. I need it now. It's one of those sequels that I'll be diving right into, because it ended in such a way that I need to know all the things!
Bottom Line: Oh, I enjoyed this book for sure! A really fresh addition to the YA fantasy genre, and if you love smart, snarky characters, you will love Zera and company!