From the very first page, I was transported to a realm where frozen hearts and death magic intertwined, captivating my imagination. The author skillfully wove together elements of fantasy and reality, exploring uncomfortable issues with tact and nuance. Amidst the fantastical backdrop, we witness ordinary individuals doing their utmost to conquer metaphorical demons, and perhaps even literal ones. The pacing of the story was spot-on, keeping me engaged from start to finish. Each chapter offered a new twist or revelation, propelling the narrative forward while leaving me eager for more. The balance between action-packed sequences and quieter, introspective moments was masterfully handled, allowing the characters to shine in both high-stakes scenarios and quieter, character-driven scenes. Speaking of characters, Leitato has created a cast that is both diverse and compelling. I found myself emotionally invested in their journeys, rooting for their successes and feeling their pain.

"How does it work?" "Don't ruin the magic. Look. It's beautiful." I didn't know what to expect when I started this. I just saw the cover and bought the book... which I really liked! The writing made getting through this really easy as did the story. I would have loved to read even more about River and Naia, I loved the from the start but Isofel and Leah grew on me as well. As to the parents: *deep breath* WHY ON EARTH ARE THEY ALL SO HORRIBLE?! Yeah, in the end, Leah's mother had a 'good reason' but OMG does no one in this world communicate with each other? But all this talk of how the girl might get ruined and how she should just get over with the wedding night but not explaining a single thing about what will happen and... Well, I could rant further but the essence is: the parents in this are awful! And the Ironhold family takes the cake. They're one horrible bunch. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!