I read a good chunk of this last year and absolutely hated it, and then for no reason I can explain, this year I decided to give it another go. And for some reason, this time, the story really clicked for me. This story shows what it's like to be a woman in a world controlled by men, and while it's a fantasy, it often feels very much like 1800s England.

I didn't realise when I started this story that this was a book centered around grooming, and sexual assault. I think this should have been made clearer in the blurb. The journey Effy takes as she uncovers Myrddin's secrets and sees her own experiences from a new perspective is masterfully written.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone or not. After Effy and Preston's story came to a conclusion that I didn't expect, and truly loved, the very last lines left this story on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and I'm unsure if this is intended to be an ambiguous ending.