A hidden gem.
Didn’t expect the inside to be in the same beautiful colorful art as the cover! Surely is a very unique artstyle and quite mesmerizing to look at. The color palette as well as the designs are just hypnotic and fit the vibe of the world so well! Even though it plays around the Middle Ages, there’s something modern about it (not taking about the sci-fi aspect, just the way they dress, talk and all), and the art enhances that well. 5/5 stars for that alone.
While there’s no romance as the main plot, there’s a lot of queer casualty & subtext. For example, it was kind of implied that two women can have biological kids (because magic?). Or that adoption is just as normal. The queen at least is bi/pan/poly, completely open about it, and no one cares about Ania’s little romance with her best friend Elisa either. They were so cute together (and I’m proud of my gaydar for having shipped them since the first page XP). No labels, completely normal.
The characters are all really interesting and serve their purpose, but sometimes fell a little flat. Most have only one goal, and while they also have flaws, it’s all stereotypical, not in-depth. Although the main characters had some development, they too don’t feel that whole.
I suppose that also has a lot to do with the length & pacing. It starts very slow, takes its time with slice of life and spends many pages following Ania’s daily idle life (which I didn’t mind, I love that trope!). But then in the 2nd half suddenly realizes that the end is nigh, that maybe the publisher doesn’t want more than 200 pages or so, that it needs to be rounded up now. While the ending is quite self-explainable, I found it a bit too rushed, a bit too open in some cases.
I genuinely hope there’ll be a sequel, because there is so much potential for more. (Especially regarding the cute sapphics. I mean, let me quote them: “And the end of the world with you doesn’t sound like a bad plan.” <3)
What I also found interesting was the Spain ‘versus’ Ireland. It wasn’t labeled as such, but the southern queendom looks a lot inspired by Spanish culture (and the artist is Spanish), whereas the northern kingdom seems Irish. Plus some asian-like cultures mixed in both lands. Not a combination I’ve seen before, especially cause northern kingdoms are usually always Vikings. A cool world-building aspect I would’ve wished to dive in more…
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot though, and definitely recommend it to fantasy and sci-fi fans alike! And especially if you love slice of life with a bit of action!
(Some other reviewers on other platforms have said that it’s not suitable for teens, but I disagree. There may be bits of blood, but nothing worse than Disney’s 20th Century animation movies. I’d set the suitable age to 12 or even younger.)
| Criteria | Scores | Our Score |
|---|---|---|
| Art | 1-5 | 5 |
| Pacing | 1-5 | 3 |
| Characters | 1-5 | 4 |
| Writing Style | 1-5 | 4 |
| Originality | 1-5 | 3.5 |
Finale Grade
B
Thank you to Oni Press on Netgalley for an eARC.
Finished reading: 7th April 2025
~Arden Skye
Check my other content on: Newsletter | Youtube | My books
Written By: Arden Skye
Favorite game/film/book: doesn’t have one, cause there are too many good ones!
About: generalist, who likes a bit of everything, but especially has a love for magic, queerness and melancholy. When they’re not arting, they’re probably dreaming/reading through another world, or spending time in nature with their dog.
Donate: https://ko-fi.com/timefliesaway
