ninovg's review against another edition
4.0
I realize this book is a prequel to the series, though I do wish a little more world building was added before laying out some very important facts about the story world. Overall liked the relationship of the leads, seemed a little rushed but I’m privy to a slower burn. Overall I enjoyed the book, the characters were relatable in their struggles to not being able to speak out and to leaning more to lashing out at times. It felt very natural too, to just fall in love so easily without question of ones sexuality, enjoyed that part immensely.
luftschlosseule's review against another edition
4.0
trigger warning
In a world where the nobles pride themselves on not having the magic they think beneath them, one noble discovers she has unexplained abilities and tries her hardest to keep them hidden.
The royal pyradisté realises this and is torn between her duty to her employer and feelings toward a fellow magician.
Let me start with the strongest point of this: The character's queerness is not a problem. I repeat: Queerness is not a problem!
This doesn't mean there are no problems, simply that it's not important what is hidden under the finery of your crush. For example, the queen is unavailable for most parts of the book as she has a new female paramour, and it's okay as long as she won't marry a person that may be in for power and money.
Our main characters come from different worlds and upbringings and thus have different abilities. Both are shown to have strengths and weaknesses, and overcoming prejudice is something both have to do.
The magic system took a while to get used to. The mages have pyramids from a special crystal that allows them to focus their intent and their abilities. Pyramids can be tuned for different kind of jobs, a light pyramid makes light, a mind pyramid is usefull for poking into people's thoughts. And the term pyradisté... yeah, not the most creative but that makes it believable as something that would be used.
Apart from that, it's pretty standard high fantasy fare. Courtly shemes that have to be stopped because threat of magic, bigger than the opposition knows. Travel is exactly as quick as your horse can run.
It's quite sad, really, that queerness in characters is enough to make old stories very appealing, but it is how it is.
My only critique so far would be that the views shared by a monk of the gods of love and beauty felt ace-exclusionary. You know, the kind of sex positivity that only is for people who do have sex and excludes everyone who simply has no interest.
Please work on that. I like sex positivity, but not if it makes my particular brand of queerness a problem.
Apart from that, full recommendations.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Spoiler
child neglect, traumaIn a world where the nobles pride themselves on not having the magic they think beneath them, one noble discovers she has unexplained abilities and tries her hardest to keep them hidden.
The royal pyradisté realises this and is torn between her duty to her employer and feelings toward a fellow magician.
Let me start with the strongest point of this: The character's queerness is not a problem. I repeat: Queerness is not a problem!
This doesn't mean there are no problems, simply that it's not important what is hidden under the finery of your crush. For example, the queen is unavailable for most parts of the book as she has a new female paramour, and it's okay as long as she won't marry a person that may be in for power and money.
Our main characters come from different worlds and upbringings and thus have different abilities. Both are shown to have strengths and weaknesses, and overcoming prejudice is something both have to do.
The magic system took a while to get used to. The mages have pyramids from a special crystal that allows them to focus their intent and their abilities. Pyramids can be tuned for different kind of jobs, a light pyramid makes light, a mind pyramid is usefull for poking into people's thoughts. And the term pyradisté... yeah, not the most creative but that makes it believable as something that would be used.
Apart from that, it's pretty standard high fantasy fare. Courtly shemes that have to be stopped because threat of magic, bigger than the opposition knows. Travel is exactly as quick as your horse can run.
It's quite sad, really, that queerness in characters is enough to make old stories very appealing, but it is how it is.
My only critique so far would be that the views shared by a monk of the gods of love and beauty felt ace-exclusionary. You know, the kind of sex positivity that only is for people who do have sex and excludes everyone who simply has no interest.
Please work on that. I like sex positivity, but not if it makes my particular brand of queerness a problem.
Apart from that, full recommendations.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
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