The opening pages are rough, and then it gets GOOD

The first few pages are a MAJOR info dump that are really hard to slog through, and then the story suddenly gets super intriguing and sucked me straight in. I got really invested and forgot I was reading a short blurb that was going to end soon and actually cried out "NOOOO!" aloud when it suddenly ended. I will admit to already being half in love with Severin (who doesn't love a good anti-hero?) and Laila is awesome. I can't wait to read more about their adventures!