This was interesting, and not at all what I was expecting - though I haven't read any of her other books. I love that it had a sapphic romance storyline in it. It's a fantasy book, but there's not a ton of magic. There's a bigger world going on, but the book focuses mostly on the smaller stuff: Nirrim and her relationships with the others in her kith, her employer/guardian figure Raven, and the new stranger come into town, Sid. We didn't get to the real story until the last 50 pages or so. But there is definitely some bigger stuff going on.

I really enjoyed Rutkoski's writing. There was a lot of subtle world building and character work, and some interesting themes on memory and forgetting. Nirrim can be a little dense and frustrating, so if you're not enjoying her story you won't have a good time. But while I could see some of the plot reveals coming, it was still fun to get there. And that ending packed a punch! I need to pick up the second book in the duology.