Wordies, if you’re looking for a dark academia novel that will give you a serious book hangover, then I’ve got just the recommendation for you.

“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to be a good one.”

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Wordies, I’m too bookmatised and book-hungover to make this long: I loved this book.

I didn’t know much about it going in — just that it was fantasy and dark academia, and I judged that purely off the cover. And then it started beating me up in the first chapter. I was sobbing. 😭

“No woman ever gets the credit for the work she puts in–especially in academia. She never gets the glory. Well, I’m not married, I’m no one’s apprentice, and I’ll be damned if I let a man find some other way to take glory from me.”

I’m not even sure exactly what got me. It could be the worldbuilding, which was detailed and immersive. It could be the fully fleshed out, morally grey characters. It could be the magic system (think coding, but with typewriters). It could be the fact that romance was minimal (which I personally love). It could be the themes: colonialism, patriarchy, poverty, privilege, religion… it could be the rage.

But I think what really got me is how deeply I fell into this world. Every scene was so vivid in my mind — and at the same time, I could see the parallels to our own world. I love a book that shakes your perspective a bit. That makes you stop and think about the things we repeat without really interrogating them. This one says: everything has a cost — and if we know that, then why don’t we talk about the price we refuse to pay?

This book doesn’t let you look away.

“We Kwen have a word for that–taking ancestral items from people who aren’t dead. It’s called stealing.”

It was so easy to dislike Sciona for her ego and stubbornness, but slowly you realise that see is also a mirror. And then there’s Thomil and Carra, who you want to criticise, but layer by layer you understand just how impossible their situation is.

The plot was brilliant. The pacing worked for me. Yes, there were chunks of explanation for the worldbuilding and systems, but it worked with the dark academia vibe.

I thought the mid-point reveal was easy to guess, but I think that was a lamb-to-the-slaughter move… because then we had to face it all directly and in detail.

There’s some violence and blood, so just a heads up if that’s something you prefer to avoid.

This book was breathtaking. I need a nap, a snack, and probably a therapist. Then I’ll be crawling back for Sword of Kaigen because clearly M. L. Wang came here to hurt us and I’m here for it. 😬🤣

In the meantime, does anyone know of a good book hangover activity?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5 stars)

Format: Hardback

Pages: 448

Category: Fantasy

Published: 24 Oct 2024

About: The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.

For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fuelled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to become the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry.

When Sciona finally achieves her ambition and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome – and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realise is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city.

But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power.

At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship.

But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever – if it doesn’t get them killed first.

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