Cool magic system but hazy on the details
The magic system was COOL - hex cards with clearly defined rules and activation words that can only be created by trained professionals under the “complete” control of the five noble families. Also, the structure of the city: the Marsh with its stink and the gang-controlled territories and the Evergarden with its flowers and parties and wasteful magic. I also liked Marlow and wanted way more about her day job, rather than just her using those connections to call upon convenient favors.
Now for the negative: so much of the worldbuilding was left super vague. It felt rather similar to Pool’s other series in that way. We don’t understand how the magic actually works (how are cards made? What does a grimoire actually do?), we don’t understand the politics or relations with the larger world (is magic everywhere? What’s the system of government in this town? What do other cities/countries think of the town and its noble families? What’s trade like? How do they treat people from other countries? I could go on)
Instead most of the book was spent on the romance and the con that facilitated that romance. I just finished the book and I literally can’t even remember the love interest’s name because he didn’t have a personality, just a series of circumstances.
And of course there’s a sequel, though it felt like it would only take another 40 pages to wrap everything up; better to just throw in a cliffhanger I guess.The magic system was COOL - hex cards with clearly defined rules and activation words that can only be created by trained professionals under the “complete” control of the five noble families. Also, the structure of the city: the Marsh with its stink and the gang-controlled territories and the Evergarden with its flowers and parties and wasteful magic. I also liked Marlow and wanted way more about her day job, rather than just her using those connections to call upon convenient favors.
Now for the negative: so much of the worldbuilding was left super vague. It felt rather similar to Pool’s other series in that way. We don’t understand how the magic actually works (how are cards made? What does a grimoire actually do?), we don’t understand the politics or relations with the larger world (is magic everywhere? What’s the system of government in this town? What do other cities/countries think of the town and its noble families? What’s trade like? How do they treat people from other countries? I could go on)
Instead most of the book was spent on the romance and the con that facilitated that romance. I just finished the book and I literally can’t even remember the love interest’s name because he didn’t have a personality, just a series of circumstances.
And of course there’s a sequel, though it felt like it would only take another 40 pages to wrap everything up; better to just throw in a cliffhanger I guess.
Now for the negative: so much of the worldbuilding was left super vague. It felt rather similar to Pool’s other series in that way. We don’t understand how the magic actually works (how are cards made? What does a grimoire actually do?), we don’t understand the politics or relations with the larger world (is magic everywhere? What’s the system of government in this town? What do other cities/countries think of the town and its noble families? What’s trade like? How do they treat people from other countries? I could go on)
Instead most of the book was spent on the romance and the con that facilitated that romance. I just finished the book and I literally can’t even remember the love interest’s name because he didn’t have a personality, just a series of circumstances.
And of course there’s a sequel, though it felt like it would only take another 40 pages to wrap everything up; better to just throw in a cliffhanger I guess.The magic system was COOL - hex cards with clearly defined rules and activation words that can only be created by trained professionals under the “complete” control of the five noble families. Also, the structure of the city: the Marsh with its stink and the gang-controlled territories and the Evergarden with its flowers and parties and wasteful magic. I also liked Marlow and wanted way more about her day job, rather than just her using those connections to call upon convenient favors.
Now for the negative: so much of the worldbuilding was left super vague. It felt rather similar to Pool’s other series in that way. We don’t understand how the magic actually works (how are cards made? What does a grimoire actually do?), we don’t understand the politics or relations with the larger world (is magic everywhere? What’s the system of government in this town? What do other cities/countries think of the town and its noble families? What’s trade like? How do they treat people from other countries? I could go on)
Instead most of the book was spent on the romance and the con that facilitated that romance. I just finished the book and I literally can’t even remember the love interest’s name because he didn’t have a personality, just a series of circumstances.
And of course there’s a sequel, though it felt like it would only take another 40 pages to wrap everything up; better to just throw in a cliffhanger I guess.