At this point I am not sure if this is a dystopian masterpiece, or just an enjoyable story with too much shock value. I think book 2 will show how much "there" is there. However, there's a lot of really good stuff. A strict regime, a tyrant, a tyrant's son with a secret, a rebellion, an assassin, lots of POVs that actually had value, and some twists and turns that left me with my mouth open. Daggermouth throws you straight into a tightly controlled world where surveillance, class divide, and obedience shape everything. What kept me hooked were the shifting perspectives. Each POV felt like it had a clear purpose, slowly widening the scope of the rebellion and the system it is fighting against. The twists land hard. There are moments where the story genuinely shifts under your feet, and I found myself re-evaluating everything I thought I understood about the characters and their motivations. At the same time, there’s still a lingering question for me about depth versus impact. Some parts feel like they are designed more for shock and momentum than long-term emotional grounding. I think the second book will be the real test of how much complexity is being built here. 4/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the eARC! #Daggermouth #NetGalley #Bookstagram