I didn't know what to expect from this book when I started reading. In the beginning, I was often distracted by wandering thoughts. Many elements from the book are drawn directly from the ancient Roman world. As a Roman historian who specialises in the period which appears to have most influenced this novel, I was continuously distracted by the historical similarities. I was frustrated at first - I read fiction to get away from my research, and seeing so many parallels made me feel as if I was simply trading one type of study for another - reception studies are not something I am overly fond of.

I took a break from the book, restarting it a month after I originally picked it up. This second time, I was able to better immerse myself in Mia's world. This book is dark, brutal, and brilliant. I was blown away by the quality of the writing, the world-building (though, as I said, heavily influenced by that which I am familiar), and the narration. Even the characters I hated, I adored for their unique quirks and stories.

Although I was saddened by the turn of events in the latter third and had my suspicions about who would ultimately betray Mia, there is no senselessness in the deaths wrought at Ash's and Oz's hands, as in other stories I have read - every word, every moment, is meaningful for the story. That being said, I would have preferred Tric to have lived.

Although I will take a break from this series, I will certainly continue it and look forward to reading the rest of the Pale Daughter's story.