5 stars // read June 2023

I was cautiously optimistic about this book, as the premise sounded intriguing but also like one that could go in a very weird direction.

The beginning felt very rushed and sort of clumsy, but as the book continued and I got to know the characters more, the pacing evened out. I'm a sucker for a good "magical bond" story, and that particular trope was front and center, so I enjoyed that quite a bit.

Overall, if you're looking for something deep and philosophical, this isn't for you. If you want a portal fantasy that has a light and sweet romance with interesting magical powers in the mix, then definitely check this one out.

Content: Overall, pretty clean. Several uses of language with frequently used made-up words ("sards/sarding" is used frequently as a curse word, for example). As you might guess by the title, familiars play a significant role- in this story, they are sentient animals/objects (or in Bannen's case, humans) that act as assistants to the mage they are bonded to; Bannen basically acts as Rena's bodyguard.