Laia and her family have simple rules. Do good work, be on time, and hail the Martial Empire. Usually, they’re pretty easy rules to abide by. Everything changes when Laia’s brother gets arrested for treason, and her parents are killed trying to save him. Laia escapes, but barely. With vengeance in her heart and a vindication for saving her only family left, Laia goes undercover as a slave. As she gathers intel for the rebel cell, she meets Elias, a soldier in training at the top of his class, and who secretly hates the Empire. By the time they realize just how close they have become, the stakes have risen even higher. Together, they must work against the Empire and save Laia’s brother, all while staying alive.
I absolutely loved this book. It had everything I could think of, from fantastical world-building to slow friends to lovers burn, and it was all written wonderfully. The characters had depth and internal conflict that was relatable, but also unique to them and their situations. I could feel these characters come alive off of the page as the story continued. The dual POV is one of my favorite types of books to read, and I was not disappointed. Only being the first book, it of course ended on a cliffhanger, but I was so happy with the rest of it I don’t particularly care. That being said, I need the next book as soon as possible. I adored this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good fantasy read. I would rate this a five out of five stars, easily. Truly delighted at the book.