I was confused about why everyone was so in love with this book but then I read more and now I understand. I'd say the first third of this was very "meh". Pretty standard fantasy with a bit of a romance.

The romance isn't anything new. I've read a lot of these tropes in other books before and this romance wasn't anything ground breaking. But I do eat it up every time anyway.

I liked the alchemy and the magic system, it was a bit different from other fantasy books.

A really solid first book and I can't wait for a sequel!