This one's got me conflicted, so I'll start with the parts I liked. Setting was great. Plot twists were great. I enjoy the writing style. The world building was painted with a very broad brush in terms of the magic system, but it remained consistent with some interesting applications. I found myself delighted by the first half of this book. Saturnino's POV lets us know he's unashamedly just that much of a villain. He's manipulative. He's hot and he knows it. And he'll do whatever it takes to get Ravenna to give in. Ravenna in the meantime knows this as clear as day, and has to struggle with the fact that he is, in fact, still pretty hot. I was looking forward to some good cat and mouse displays while the defiant and rebellious Ravenna introduced in the first few chapters worked her way through Italian high society. I was excited to see the ways the two of them would manipulate each other.

Instead, she fell for him anyway? Even after he made it clear he was just using her and had no interest? She risked her life for her brother by defying the tyrant ruling over her town, then within weeks decided she's actually Team Tyrant after all. Not my favorite way for love to bloom. But it's fine because her love and general demeanor are enough to change him into a proper and loving guy. Or perhaps dig up that heart of gold that was always buried inside him. Either way, the "she can fix him" romance never hits with me, and this book was no exception. Which is a shame because it dampened an otherwise interesting fantastical take on a historical power struggle with some really compelling supporting cast members.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saturday Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!