Second time reading this book and I still love it just as much. The characters are so real and multi-dimensional, and they have problems and concerns that aren't just glossed over but central to who they are as a character. I also love strong female protagonists, and Zivah delivers on that end. Not only is she extremely smart and capable, but she is also soft-spoken and thinks before speaking and acting which only adds to her power. I couldn't comment on this book without also saying how much I love Dineas. He is sweet and caring while also being a fierce fighter with strong loyalties. I also love how Livia Blackburne wrote his thoughts as he realized that his preconceptions about Zivah were wrong, and the way he deals with the events of the book. I just love his character arc, he became more sympathetic and understanding throughout this book while Zivah became more of a formidable force. Absolutely amazing book, could not recommend it enough! And even though it is a fantasy, it was so easy to follow along with the world Blackburne has created.

I thought this book was very good. I thought it was a very strong mix between the cinder series and ember in the ashes. I really enjoyed not only the lead characters but also the plot. I thought the world building was done so well and It was easy to become invested in these characters. I enjoyed how this story avoided the insta love issue and made for interesting story. I did think the book had slow moments but overall I was captured from page one. I am very invested in where this series goes in book two!

Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own. Yay me! No disclaimer needed =). Rating: 3.5/5 Genre: YA Fantasy Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, disease, concentration like conditions, overthrowing the kingdom) Pages: 390 Author Website Amazon Link Synopsis: A healer who cannot be healed . . . When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill. A soldier shattered by war . . . Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self. Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts. This smart, sweeping fantasy with a political edge and a slow-burning romance will capture fans of The Lumatere Chronicles and An Ember in the Ashes. I love books with new concepts and this one was definitely one of those. Not a lot of books take place from the perspective of a doctor, but this one did and it was fabulous! I loved Zivah and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. The book was very good at character development and plot development. The plot was always intriguing and the writing was really good. You can tell the author is very intelligent and that she knows how the brain works. However, I do feel that the book had some pacing issues and it failed to hold my interest as it kept repeating itself in my opinion. The book also had a problem with time. It moved inconsistently and sometimes scenes would take place over a matter of weeks or they would take place over a matter of hours. Verdict: Overall, the book is really good, but it just failed to catch my attention.

I loves this book! I really can't wait until the next one comes out!