Well. This was really engrossing in some ways, and incredibly boring in others. In many ways, it reminded me of a TTRPG setting book more so than a novel. Just with a bigger-than-usual helping of narrative holding it together. I got a pretty thorough impression of the city of Eastborne, and a decent understanding of Aedrea as a whole, and some idea of all those places mentioned in the MC’s father’s journal/cocktail recipes collection. Everything remotely plotty that happens on the page feels precisely like story hooks for someone to turn into actual story that’s more than just an assortment of events. The characters have their rare moments, but for the most part, feel quite flat—like they’re merely vehicles for exploring the world.

That last part was really a big disappointment for me, not just because I generally prefer character-driven fiction, but also because the MC’s deal at the very beginning looked so promising. I was looking forward to watching a war veteran with magic-related chronic pain start a new life and find hope and healing, while dealing with the baggage in some way. Instead, it didn’t feel like that baggage even existed outside of occasionally bringing up the pain and the magic. Rhoren mostly just… completely discarded the old and focused on the new. He could have had any other type of backstory and nothing would change, neither about his personality nor what there was of the plot. 

The setting, on the other hand, *is* very well-described, cozy, picturesque, and livable. I wish I could visit. All the cocktail-recipes are very fun and lovingly described, too.