I recieved this book in a giveaway and originally thought it was the first book then I found out I wasn't and quickly purchase the first. Not only was the cover beautiful but the writing style also got me interested. The character development was great with Liliana's preferences of being secluded and also being rare as her kind has been hunted to near extinction. Then that all changes when she makes friends a begins to use her visions to keep them as safe as she can. The writers ability to create a world so clearly for me is what made this a favorite for me. Impatiently waiting on book 3. ( )

This book is all that I expect in a fantasy book and my only regret is not reading it sooner. The main character quirkiness is well explained and endeared her. I normally don’t think of spiders in a sympathetic manner or as something useful in nature however Liliana as a spider-kin is loyal, courageous, and resourceful. She is honest, polite, and humble. A true friend and ally of Others, despite Others suspicions and prejudices.
I was always eager to continue reading this story when I had to put it aside for other responsibilities and am interested in reading from this author and storyline. ( )

I enjoyed this very much and look forward to more. Well written and paced. Recommended.

I'm going to be honest that I wanted this book mostly for the paranormal romance tag that it had, which this book didn't exactly deliver on. I would call it more romance adjacent. There is a kiss, but I would say its more lives entwined than romantic. The book is very inclusive, so props to that. And for those who like a more traditional portrayal of fae and mythic creatures I think you're going to like this one. But for me it was a miss cause I was just looking for a swoon worthy romance novel and this really isn't that. ( )

I really enjoyed the way this book was written! The main character/narrator is among the last of her particular race, and she mentions that some people believe she might be on the autism spectrum. That helped me understand some of the main character's idiosyncracies better, as I have an adult autistic daughter. The voice and some of the thought processes, etc., really rang true to me from that perspective. I am not sure if the author is on the spectrum or not, but if not, she did a great job capturing the autistic point of view, without making it a Huge Deal in the book. That's a refreshing change from most books that feature autistic characters!

Essentially, our protagonist is suspected of a murder she did not commit, and must fight to stay free and prove her innocence. Along the way, former enemies become friends and former friends become enemies in the effort to catch the real killer. Will our heroine find a way to save herself and those she cares about? She will have to be on her toes every minute, analyzing every move and potential outcome, in order to succeed.

The world-building is fantastic in this one! There are many supernatural/paranormal creatures included, and each one has its own specific history, lifestyle, strengths, and weaknesses, and they all mingle together with the "Normals." Although the story is set in the not too distant/alternate reality future, I could easily believe that the alternate version of future events shared were actually true! And also why, given the rules of this world the author created, the protagonist wanted to keep a low profile. It's one of the few fantasy novels I've read that wasn't a stretch for me to suspend my disbelief, and that made the read that much more enjoyable.

If I have any complaints about the book at all, it's that it was too short, with what felt like a somewhat abrupt ending. We're told that a certain event is going to occur in the future, and then the story ends before that event occurs! I get that this book is probably intended to be the first of many about the supernatural creatures in this world. but it was still frustrating to not have that little dangling thread tied up at the end. And to my mind, it's more of an action/adventure type story, than what I would consider a tradtional romance - paranormal or otherwise.

I rate the individual elements of the book as follows on a scale of 1 to 5:

Protagonist - 5/5 stars
Supporting characters - 3/5 stars
Plot - 4/5 stars
Pacing - 4/5 stars
Fight scenes - 4/5 stars
World-building - 5/5 stars
Dialogue - 4/5 stars
Romance - 1/5 stars
AVERAGE: 4/5 stars

I don't know that I will read the other books in this series (assuming more will come out) as the fantasy genre generally isn't my cup of tea, but I do heartily recommend this book, if for no other reason than to enjoy the attention to detail put into building this alternate world and the nuanced portrayal of someone that maybe/probably is on the autism spectrum. I think other writers could learn something about writing under-represented characters and showing v. telling as a result of reading this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )