This book was received for free as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my review. However, all thoughts are my own.
3.5/5 stars, but rounding up to 4 because Goodreads doesn't allow for partial stars and the story was a fun, entertaining read.
My initial impression was that the book was fairly atmospheric. I could sense the fog choking out an abandoned landscape and the mystery and unease that accompanied it.
The worldbuilding was interesting and the plot engaging. I found myself always wanting to know more about the world, its beasts, and the powers at play.
Frankly, the weakest part of this story was the romance; it felt rushed and underdeveloped. I wish we could've spent more time in the characters' heads as they moved from apprehension to infatuation towards each other.
The narrator isn't totally omniscient and the lore of this land is drip-fed to us as the characters interact with the world. I do wonder if we were kept out of certain characters' heads to preserve this mystery; however, this backfired a little, likely being the reason the romance felt rushed and underdeveloped.
Regardless of my critiques, I always looked forward to and enjoyed my time reading this book. And, for me, enjoying myself is a key part of reading. I look forward to following this series as the other books release.
(I'll try to return and add more detail once I figure out how to add spoiler text.)