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The Nine Gentlemen #1
Because I Killed Him
Guillotines made of gold still cut off heads.
In the Civilized World, everyone is rich, yet money doesn’t buy safety. It only buys a gold coffin. The real currency is having the right allies. Low-citizens survive by joining high-citizens’ exclusive inner circles, trading loyalty for protection from laws that govern speech, dress, and posture—and punish mistakes with public beheading.
Low-citizen Loredana Waldsten already knows the cost of breaking the rules. Once a rising fencing prodigy, she lost the right to carry weapons after killing a high-citizen in a brutal locker-room attack. The courts erased his death to preserve his family’s honor. Now she’s unarmed, legally defenseless, and enrolled at the elite Grandmaster University, where champagne spills into the gutters and reputations are built on death duels.
When Loredana’s father, a low-citizen politician, publicly challenges the high-citizens, she becomes a target. Some classmates demand her execution. Others hunt her for sport. And by law, she’s forbidden to fight back.
Her only chance of survival lies with Edmund Prew, a charming yet ruthless high-citizen student she’s been warned against. Edmund's family has been locked in a bitter feud with Loredana’s for years, and he wants nothing to do with her until a lost bet forces him to protect her within his inner circle. What begins as a scandalous, strategic alliance turns perilous as they fall for each other.
Because the man Loredana killed was more than an average high-citizen. And if Edmund ever learns the truth, the only person keeping Loredana alive may become the one most determined to kill her.
In the Civilized World, everyone is rich, yet money doesn’t buy safety. It only buys a gold coffin. The real currency is having the right allies. Low-citizens survive by joining high-citizens’ exclusive inner circles, trading loyalty for protection from laws that govern speech, dress, and posture—and punish mistakes with public beheading.
Low-citizen Loredana Waldsten already knows the cost of breaking the rules. Once a rising fencing prodigy, she lost the right to carry weapons after killing a high-citizen in a brutal locker-room attack. The courts erased his death to preserve his family’s honor. Now she’s unarmed, legally defenseless, and enrolled at the elite Grandmaster University, where champagne spills into the gutters and reputations are built on death duels.
When Loredana’s father, a low-citizen politician, publicly challenges the high-citizens, she becomes a target. Some classmates demand her execution. Others hunt her for sport. And by law, she’s forbidden to fight back.
Her only chance of survival lies with Edmund Prew, a charming yet ruthless high-citizen student she’s been warned against. Edmund's family has been locked in a bitter feud with Loredana’s for years, and he wants nothing to do with her until a lost bet forces him to protect her within his inner circle. What begins as a scandalous, strategic alliance turns perilous as they fall for each other.
Because the man Loredana killed was more than an average high-citizen. And if Edmund ever learns the truth, the only person keeping Loredana alive may become the one most determined to kill her.
602 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2026
About the author
Edith Birde
1 book1,056 followersEdith Birde is the pen name for two sisters who have been writing together since their early teenage years. They live in South Africa. For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the 'About' section of their website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,513 reviews
May 14, 2026
Wowowowowowow.
1920s x dystopian x futuristic… the world building was SO lush!!!!!!!!!! . A class system based on credits, and one of the most original worlds I’ve read in I can’t even remember how long.
The romance had me kicking my feet, and the mystery/story went places I wasn’t expecting.
Ugh. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can just stumble across indie authors and find books this good.
1920s x dystopian x futuristic… the world building was SO lush!!!!!!!!!! . A class system based on credits, and one of the most original worlds I’ve read in I can’t even remember how long.
The romance had me kicking my feet, and the mystery/story went places I wasn’t expecting.
Ugh. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can just stumble across indie authors and find books this good.
June 6, 2026
4.5 stars ✨
"I knew I’d found the one, not when I was willing to die for her. But when, for her, I was willing to die to myself."
I'm having an existential crisis ever since I finished this book. It's slow burning and consuming in ways I didn't see coming. It had everything in it: Political intrigue, a unique dystopian and academia setting, a forbidden romance so genuinely forbidden and slow burning that I felt like I was gonna combust and let's not forget the drama 🤌 The idea of a credit/point based system was both unnerving and thrilling from a reader's perspective.
But honestly, my first 40% experience of this book is different from the rest of the 60% which is the only reason it's not a complete five stars for me. The first 40% is not bad, it's super interesting. But I found it to be dragging and super slow paced. I do understand that the plot is being set, characters taking their positions and yet paired with long chapters? It took me two days. Once I got into the rhythm of it after that mark, I inhaled this book 😩😩 I let it consume my mind so thoroughly, I was making full use of my insomnia.
💚 Loredana who is our "low citizen" or a Green in this classist society, I found her to be stubborn, prideful, fierce and I loved her for it. She's loyal, reserved with who she opens up to and trust is earned. I respect that. Although, I do wish she stood up for herself more but it's only book one and given her circumstances, I could understand her actions. There's a lot of potential and growth for her.
💙 Edmund who is our "high citizen" or a Blue is so sauve and ruthless. Loyalty is earned for him and trust not so easily given. But boy, when this man loves... He LOVESSSSSSS 🫠🫠 Like he had me swooning, clutching my heart. I went from calling him book boyfriend to book husband to 'wtf' and then back to sweet heavens have mercy 🫠🫠 He made me feel so much 😭😭❤ And this man is GIVER we're talking acts of service as his love language. And I know the potential of what else he could have given.... Yeah I'm thinking what you're thinking 🫣
The side characters Jack and Charlotte intrigued me but their storyline was super predictable for me. Dickie was a nice addition but it really was the evil bitches Irene and Rosamund from hell that I wanted to strangle. Had my eye twitching the whole damn time whenever they were in a scene.
“Protecting you isn’t enough anymore. It hasn’t been enough since you looked at me like I was a man instead of a Blue.”
The romance in this is such a forbidden slow burn. They're not allowed to touch, so every brief glance, smile, knuckles grazing or stolen kisses had me gasping and combusting. If you're looking for spice, you won't it in here (unfortunately, it did make me scream a little but it's okay, I get it 😭). The pull of Edmund, the push of Loredana, and the screams of me loving this slow burn was a lovely mix. I want more 🤭🤭 The way they both truly see each other beyond surface level is everything.
With how it ended, I can't wait to see how the political games will play out in book two. I've got so many questions and theories already. Jerome's entry has my interest piqued, he had the instant charm of a grumpy, layered man. I hear it's going to be a five book series, so I'm committed. I do hope there's no love triangles or things like that in the long run, cause I can see Loredana and Edmund enduring this dystopian world and let their love burn it all down.
*sigh* I'm gonna be thinking about this one for a while. The book is thick but worth it.
~•~•~
Because this is the next big thing
No but fr.. It's all over BookTok. With a dystopian/sci-fi setting and a slow burning forbidden romance, it sounds like the kind of thing I would enjoy.
Time to put it to test 👀
"I knew I’d found the one, not when I was willing to die for her. But when, for her, I was willing to die to myself."
I'm having an existential crisis ever since I finished this book. It's slow burning and consuming in ways I didn't see coming. It had everything in it: Political intrigue, a unique dystopian and academia setting, a forbidden romance so genuinely forbidden and slow burning that I felt like I was gonna combust and let's not forget the drama 🤌 The idea of a credit/point based system was both unnerving and thrilling from a reader's perspective.
But honestly, my first 40% experience of this book is different from the rest of the 60% which is the only reason it's not a complete five stars for me. The first 40% is not bad, it's super interesting. But I found it to be dragging and super slow paced. I do understand that the plot is being set, characters taking their positions and yet paired with long chapters? It took me two days. Once I got into the rhythm of it after that mark, I inhaled this book 😩😩 I let it consume my mind so thoroughly, I was making full use of my insomnia.
💚 Loredana who is our "low citizen" or a Green in this classist society, I found her to be stubborn, prideful, fierce and I loved her for it. She's loyal, reserved with who she opens up to and trust is earned. I respect that. Although, I do wish she stood up for herself more but it's only book one and given her circumstances, I could understand her actions. There's a lot of potential and growth for her.
💙 Edmund who is our "high citizen" or a Blue is so sauve and ruthless. Loyalty is earned for him and trust not so easily given. But boy, when this man loves... He LOVESSSSSSS 🫠🫠 Like he had me swooning, clutching my heart. I went from calling him book boyfriend to book husband to 'wtf' and then back to sweet heavens have mercy 🫠🫠 He made me feel so much 😭😭❤ And this man is GIVER we're talking acts of service as his love language. And I know the potential of what else he could have given.... Yeah I'm thinking what you're thinking 🫣
The side characters Jack and Charlotte intrigued me but their storyline was super predictable for me. Dickie was a nice addition but it really was the evil bitches Irene and Rosamund from hell that I wanted to strangle. Had my eye twitching the whole damn time whenever they were in a scene.
“Protecting you isn’t enough anymore. It hasn’t been enough since you looked at me like I was a man instead of a Blue.”
The romance in this is such a forbidden slow burn. They're not allowed to touch, so every brief glance, smile, knuckles grazing or stolen kisses had me gasping and combusting. If you're looking for spice, you won't it in here (unfortunately, it did make me scream a little but it's okay, I get it 😭). The pull of Edmund, the push of Loredana, and the screams of me loving this slow burn was a lovely mix. I want more 🤭🤭 The way they both truly see each other beyond surface level is everything.
With how it ended, I can't wait to see how the political games will play out in book two. I've got so many questions and theories already. Jerome's entry has my interest piqued, he had the instant charm of a grumpy, layered man. I hear it's going to be a five book series, so I'm committed. I do hope there's no love triangles or things like that in the long run, cause I can see Loredana and Edmund enduring this dystopian world and let their love burn it all down.
*sigh* I'm gonna be thinking about this one for a while. The book is thick but worth it.
~•~•~
Because this is the next big thing
No but fr.. It's all over BookTok. With a dystopian/sci-fi setting and a slow burning forbidden romance, it sounds like the kind of thing I would enjoy.
Time to put it to test 👀
June 22, 2026
4⭐️
Okay… the hype is actually justified.
I was fully absorbed into the Civilized World. The dystopian politics? Obsessed. The elite university setting? Inject it straight into my veins.
I was low-key worried about the romance because for the first 40% I was like: “Hello?? Where is it??” But then Edith Birde casually delivered one of the sweetest, most tender romances I’ve read in a while. The tension. The yearning. The slow burn. Absolutely unhinged (in the best way).
Loredana? Smart, brave, and dangerously competent. I love her.
And Edmund… one POV. Just one. A single Edmund POV. That’s all I’m asking for. I’m not greedy.
Also… the whole Charlotte/Jack/Edmund mystery? I swear I was suspicious from the very first time it was mentioned. It was giving predictable 🫣
My biggest issue was definitely the pacing AND the length — this book is LONG long. Like, I enjoyed it, but I felt every single one of those pages in the middle. It could’ve been tighter, and a few sections did feel repetitive.
But honestly? For something this ambitious, I can forgive a few laps around the same emotional parking lot.
Overall, I had such a great time with this book, and now I’m officially joining the queue of people impatiently waiting for book 2.
Okay… the hype is actually justified.
I was fully absorbed into the Civilized World. The dystopian politics? Obsessed. The elite university setting? Inject it straight into my veins.
I was low-key worried about the romance because for the first 40% I was like: “Hello?? Where is it??” But then Edith Birde casually delivered one of the sweetest, most tender romances I’ve read in a while. The tension. The yearning. The slow burn. Absolutely unhinged (in the best way).
Loredana? Smart, brave, and dangerously competent. I love her.
And Edmund… one POV. Just one. A single Edmund POV. That’s all I’m asking for. I’m not greedy.
Also… the whole Charlotte/Jack/Edmund mystery? I swear I was suspicious from the very first time it was mentioned. It was giving predictable 🫣
My biggest issue was definitely the pacing AND the length — this book is LONG long. Like, I enjoyed it, but I felt every single one of those pages in the middle. It could’ve been tighter, and a few sections did feel repetitive.
But honestly? For something this ambitious, I can forgive a few laps around the same emotional parking lot.
Overall, I had such a great time with this book, and now I’m officially joining the queue of people impatiently waiting for book 2.
June 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This was FANTASTIC.
A world where you’re defined by what color blood you have, and blue’s rule them all.
This was an INSANE debut. Genuinely such an amazing start to what seems to be an epic dystopian romance series.
The only reason this wasn’t a perfect 5 for me was because at some points the pacing felt off. But otherwise, fantastic.
And that ENDING? My god. I need book 2!!!!
This was FANTASTIC.
A world where you’re defined by what color blood you have, and blue’s rule them all.
This was an INSANE debut. Genuinely such an amazing start to what seems to be an epic dystopian romance series.
The only reason this wasn’t a perfect 5 for me was because at some points the pacing felt off. But otherwise, fantastic.
And that ENDING? My god. I need book 2!!!!
July 20, 2026
I read this on a bit of a whim because I was looking for something light and propulsive, and this one is astonishingly popular on Goodreads. Even more astonishingly so after finishing it, because I just don't get it. I mean, I get some of it. But I’m surprised this many people made it through all 600 pages, never mind actually loved it enough to rate 5 stars.
It starts okay. I was getting late 2000s-early 2010s dystopian fantasy vibes— enjoyable enough, even if the world didn't make a whole lot of sense. But a combination of poor pacing and just an overload of ill-conceived concepts quickly made it a slog.
Because I Killed Him reads like someone made a list of random elements they thought might be good in a book, and then just mashed them all together regardless of whether they worked or not. There's so many things going on in this book that are neither adequately explained nor cohesive — coloured bloods, fencing, heretic movement, Bliss drug, pregnancy is illegal, hovercars, genetic engineering, babies grown in labs, and robot servants called "pinkies".
So much doesn't quite add up. Blue Bloods are high citizens, preferred for their superior blood, while Greens (like Loredana) and others are low citizens. Pregnancy is also illegal and babies are grown in labs... so why keep making low citizens? The eugenics concept was not well thought-out.
The pacing was also off. There were occasional good scenes, but much of it dragged. I frequently felt like we were meandering along without the action or emotion elevating. The whole plot is basically Loredana evading the fallout of her dad’s political actions, yet she never actually seemed to be in danger. There was very little suspense.
Equally, the romance is absent until around 60% and then it is dialled straight up to madly in love. This is not the kind of love story I have it in me to care about. Also, a side character calling women “broad” made me want to murder someone.
A lot was left to be desired, in my opinion. A competent editor would have got this down to half the size, improving the pacing and shaving off a lot of waffle in the world-building that didn't make sense anyway.
It tootles along, failing to build up a climax until we get to the very end where it drops off at a cliffhanger. And the ending is so abrupt that it literally felt like an unfinished scene.
It starts okay. I was getting late 2000s-early 2010s dystopian fantasy vibes— enjoyable enough, even if the world didn't make a whole lot of sense. But a combination of poor pacing and just an overload of ill-conceived concepts quickly made it a slog.
Because I Killed Him reads like someone made a list of random elements they thought might be good in a book, and then just mashed them all together regardless of whether they worked or not. There's so many things going on in this book that are neither adequately explained nor cohesive — coloured bloods, fencing, heretic movement, Bliss drug, pregnancy is illegal, hovercars, genetic engineering, babies grown in labs, and robot servants called "pinkies".
So much doesn't quite add up. Blue Bloods are high citizens, preferred for their superior blood, while Greens (like Loredana) and others are low citizens. Pregnancy is also illegal and babies are grown in labs... so why keep making low citizens? The eugenics concept was not well thought-out.
The pacing was also off. There were occasional good scenes, but much of it dragged. I frequently felt like we were meandering along without the action or emotion elevating. The whole plot is basically Loredana evading the fallout of her dad’s political actions, yet she never actually seemed to be in danger. There was very little suspense.
Equally, the romance is absent until around 60% and then it is dialled straight up to madly in love. This is not the kind of love story I have it in me to care about. Also, a side character calling women “broad” made me want to murder someone.
A lot was left to be desired, in my opinion. A competent editor would have got this down to half the size, improving the pacing and shaving off a lot of waffle in the world-building that didn't make sense anyway.
It tootles along, failing to build up a climax until we get to the very end where it drops off at a cliffhanger. And the ending is so abrupt that it literally felt like an unfinished scene.
Want to Read
July 6, 2026Pre read
Gatsby? 1920? Dystopian?
Gatsby? 1920? Dystopian?
June 1, 2026
5 🌟 🛸🤺🦂🤖🎷🌊🐚🌼✨
‧₊˚.𑣲 𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁, 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓂𝓅𝓉𝓎 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝑜𝓉, 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓇𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓃𝑜𝓌 ⋆˚࿔
give me the roaring 20s but make it sci-fi/dystopian with an academic setting + a slow burn forbidden romance and i am sat!!!
the way this book consumed me. this world, the politics/class system, the plot, the fucking characters? all perfection i could yap about this book all day i won’t even lie to you. the way i got lost in this world, watching these characters grow and navigate this cruel world was everything. the story had me on the edge of my seat at all times. and the way people can just duel each other is insane but i love it!!
𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙖 oh the way i loved her from the start. she is so relatable on every level. she is just a girl in a crazy fucked up world. watching her growth from the first chapter to the last >>>
𝙀𝙙𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙙 LET ME SCREAM FROM MY ROOFTOP ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM REAL QUICK. yes just fucking yes. the seashells? his yearning? out of this world. just everything about him is 10/10.
⋆｡𖦹 ˚𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𓇼 ˚｡⋆
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚 girly queen what you did was awful but i do think you are a good friend and working towards being better and for that i will give you points for that!
𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙠 ily king you could literally do no wrong.
𝘿𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙚 i love his commentary so much. he mush be protected at all cost!!
i just love the 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 so much 💞🥹 watching them bond and form friendships + the banter >>>
and the romance? delicious and so achingly good!! these two have my heart in shambles ❤️🩹 the slow build up between them was done so well. i am obsessed and so ready for book 2 🥰 I NEED MORE
that whole last 10% had my heart racing. that last chapter 😅 the next book is about to fucking insane!!
• . ݁₊ ⊹ 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜. 𝚆𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 ⊹ ₊ ݁. •
‧₊˚.𑣲 𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁, 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓂𝓅𝓉𝓎 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝑜𝓉, 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓇𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓃𝑜𝓌 ⋆˚࿔
give me the roaring 20s but make it sci-fi/dystopian with an academic setting + a slow burn forbidden romance and i am sat!!!
the way this book consumed me. this world, the politics/class system, the plot, the fucking characters? all perfection i could yap about this book all day i won’t even lie to you. the way i got lost in this world, watching these characters grow and navigate this cruel world was everything. the story had me on the edge of my seat at all times. and the way people can just duel each other is insane but i love it!!
𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙖 oh the way i loved her from the start. she is so relatable on every level. she is just a girl in a crazy fucked up world. watching her growth from the first chapter to the last >>>
𝙀𝙙𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙙 LET ME SCREAM FROM MY ROOFTOP ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM REAL QUICK. yes just fucking yes. the seashells? his yearning? out of this world. just everything about him is 10/10.
⋆｡𖦹 ˚𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𓇼 ˚｡⋆
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚 girly queen what you did was awful but i do think you are a good friend and working towards being better and for that i will give you points for that!
𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙠 ily king you could literally do no wrong.
𝘿𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙚 i love his commentary so much. he mush be protected at all cost!!
i just love the 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 so much 💞🥹 watching them bond and form friendships + the banter >>>
and the romance? delicious and so achingly good!! these two have my heart in shambles ❤️🩹 the slow build up between them was done so well. i am obsessed and so ready for book 2 🥰 I NEED MORE
that whole last 10% had my heart racing. that last chapter 😅 the next book is about to fucking insane!!
• . ݁₊ ⊹ 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜. 𝚆𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 ⊹ ₊ ݁. •
May 31, 2026
HEY WTF :)
This book is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This is nail biting action, heart warming yearning, stomach clenching back stabbing and absolute psychological mayhem. This is everything you want in a dystopian book.
In fewer words: dystopian is 👏🏼 so 👏🏼 back 👏🏼!!!!
Edmund Prew is a man who YEARNS, and it’s with so much heart. The romance is gentle, but intense love. There was a mf HAND FLEX, like this is Mr. Darcy level yearning here!
Loredana is the type of FMC that happens to be one of my favorites: curiously smart. She screws up but it always makes sense in the context of the book. She’s fiery, and brave but still humble and loving. I loved her so much.
The atmosphere being a 20’s dystopian was breathtakingly new. It was so refreshing to read something so original!
Literally 10/10, no fucking notes. Perfection. Everyone should read, 6 MF stars!
This book is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This is nail biting action, heart warming yearning, stomach clenching back stabbing and absolute psychological mayhem. This is everything you want in a dystopian book.
In fewer words: dystopian is 👏🏼 so 👏🏼 back 👏🏼!!!!
Edmund Prew is a man who YEARNS, and it’s with so much heart. The romance is gentle, but intense love. There was a mf HAND FLEX, like this is Mr. Darcy level yearning here!
Loredana is the type of FMC that happens to be one of my favorites: curiously smart. She screws up but it always makes sense in the context of the book. She’s fiery, and brave but still humble and loving. I loved her so much.
The atmosphere being a 20’s dystopian was breathtakingly new. It was so refreshing to read something so original!
Literally 10/10, no fucking notes. Perfection. Everyone should read, 6 MF stars!
August 6, 2026
Oh my godddddd! Infinity stars. Now included as one of my top 10 favorite books of all time. Of ALL TIME!!!
Anyone can claw through day after day to make it to the next. But truly living means choosing something worth fighting for and holding fast, even when the river pulls you under.
I haven’t been this obsessed with a book since honestly whichever SJM book I read last. And this is nothing like those books plot wise. When I tell you I was addicted to this, I mean I stayed up ALL NIGHT finishing it despite having a baby that doesn’t let me take naps during the day. I simply didn’t care I had to finish this.
If this isn’t the next big thing in the book community/world at large, I will be shocked. Writing is absolutely top tier. Plot is unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever read. Romance is CHEFS KISS PERFECTION. Just every single thing about this book is sheer bliss (pun intended).
I am BEGGING ANYONE WHO SEES THIS TO GO READ THIS BOOK. I will get tshirts and yard signs made and proudly display them encouraging people to read this. It’s just so freaking amazing I am gushing like a teenager. And I really don’t even like dystopian?? Yet this is one the best things I’ve ever read?? What has this author done to me??
I honestly am anticipating the next book to this just as much as I’m anticipating the next ACOTAR. And I am the world’s biggest ACOTAR fan. If that doesn’t convince you to read this book……
Infinity infinity infinity stars.
Also I just have to put this quote here because it absolutely destroys me and I think about this scene HOURLY:
Because you saw a pretty seashell and left before I knew which one.
OMG EDMUND !!! 💙💙💙
💙💚💃🏻🤺🍸🐚🎶🤑⚖️ !!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone can claw through day after day to make it to the next. But truly living means choosing something worth fighting for and holding fast, even when the river pulls you under.
I haven’t been this obsessed with a book since honestly whichever SJM book I read last. And this is nothing like those books plot wise. When I tell you I was addicted to this, I mean I stayed up ALL NIGHT finishing it despite having a baby that doesn’t let me take naps during the day. I simply didn’t care I had to finish this.
If this isn’t the next big thing in the book community/world at large, I will be shocked. Writing is absolutely top tier. Plot is unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever read. Romance is CHEFS KISS PERFECTION. Just every single thing about this book is sheer bliss (pun intended).
I am BEGGING ANYONE WHO SEES THIS TO GO READ THIS BOOK. I will get tshirts and yard signs made and proudly display them encouraging people to read this. It’s just so freaking amazing I am gushing like a teenager. And I really don’t even like dystopian?? Yet this is one the best things I’ve ever read?? What has this author done to me??
I honestly am anticipating the next book to this just as much as I’m anticipating the next ACOTAR. And I am the world’s biggest ACOTAR fan. If that doesn’t convince you to read this book……
Infinity infinity infinity stars.
Also I just have to put this quote here because it absolutely destroys me and I think about this scene HOURLY:
Because you saw a pretty seashell and left before I knew which one.
OMG EDMUND !!! 💙💙💙
💙💚💃🏻🤺🍸🐚🎶🤑⚖️ !!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18, 2026
i feel like i missed something with this one, because of all the amazing reviews.
i love the concept, and it had the potential to be so good. however, to me, it was boring, and the entire plot never elevated. it was dystopian, it had power struggles, a corrupt society, a dangerous academy - and yet, we never saw much of it.
instead, it read like a basic contemporary romance, set in a world that should have been so much more. additionally, the romance didn’t do it for me, and i never connected to it.
and honestly, with all due respect, the ending was not good. the betrayal that wasn’t a betrayal, and conflict that had no reason to be there.
i did finish the book, and for some reason it kept calling to me to read it. i think it was because i kept waiting for something to happen.
i love the concept, and it had the potential to be so good. however, to me, it was boring, and the entire plot never elevated. it was dystopian, it had power struggles, a corrupt society, a dangerous academy - and yet, we never saw much of it.
instead, it read like a basic contemporary romance, set in a world that should have been so much more. additionally, the romance didn’t do it for me, and i never connected to it.
and honestly, with all due respect, the ending was not good. the betrayal that wasn’t a betrayal, and conflict that had no reason to be there.
i did finish the book, and for some reason it kept calling to me to read it. i think it was because i kept waiting for something to happen.
June 22, 2026
this was ONE of the most unique stories I have read in my entire life & all 700 pages of this were worth it!
May 18, 2026
♾️⭐️
0🌶️
7🧠
One of the easiest 5⭐️s I’ve ever given !!! One of the most creative and original worlds I’ve ever read with INCREDIBLE world building! The caste hierarchy is a typical tenant of dystopian books, but that’s where the similarities end. From the unique roaring 20s but in the future setting, concept of civil credits, flying cars, death duels, entourages and Aegis’. The impacts of technology, isolating from the rest of the world & so many relevant themes were just masterfully done in the most fresh way.
& DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED on the romance!!!! The most real & raw forbidden friends to lovers romance EVER. Both characters are two of my favorites ever. The relationships, character interactions & found family feels so organic and REAL. I just cannot even express how much I love this. THE FREAKING SEASHELLS !!!!!! If you catch me with a seashell tattoo, mind your business !!!
0🌶️
7🧠
One of the easiest 5⭐️s I’ve ever given !!! One of the most creative and original worlds I’ve ever read with INCREDIBLE world building! The caste hierarchy is a typical tenant of dystopian books, but that’s where the similarities end. From the unique roaring 20s but in the future setting, concept of civil credits, flying cars, death duels, entourages and Aegis’. The impacts of technology, isolating from the rest of the world & so many relevant themes were just masterfully done in the most fresh way.
& DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED on the romance!!!! The most real & raw forbidden friends to lovers romance EVER. Both characters are two of my favorites ever. The relationships, character interactions & found family feels so organic and REAL. I just cannot even express how much I love this. THE FREAKING SEASHELLS !!!!!! If you catch me with a seashell tattoo, mind your business !!!
July 19, 2026
FLABBERGASTED!!!!!
holy crappp this book is IT. i’ve never read anything so twisty and so compelling in the dystopian genre, i was here for everything single thing edith was doing with this book, every turn every development had me banging my fist on the table and shouting *this is EVERYTHING*
go in blind i beg and read it IMMEDIATELY!!!!
god damn tier status? without a shadow of a doubt. a new all time fave.
holy crappp this book is IT. i’ve never read anything so twisty and so compelling in the dystopian genre, i was here for everything single thing edith was doing with this book, every turn every development had me banging my fist on the table and shouting *this is EVERYTHING*
go in blind i beg and read it IMMEDIATELY!!!!
god damn tier status? without a shadow of a doubt. a new all time fave.
July 11, 2026
3.5 stars!
"All the while, I remind myself that blue is the sky and green is the grass. We exist together in the same world, but we are never meant to touch."
Unfortunately this book didn’t meet my expectations. The premise sounded great, a dystopian world with low-citizens (Green, Orange and Purple) and high-citizens (Blue) where safety is important, but I felt that the execution was lacking. The first half of the book was boring and the pacing was slow. The second half of the book was much better and the plot was more engaging. There were several plot twists in the second half that were very surprising! Additionally, the political intrigue was great and well thought out. The world building was well done and I enjoyed learning about how the low citizens differ from the high-citizens. I had mixed feelings about several of the characters. At first I didn't connect to any of the characters and their development was lacking, but the second half I liked more characters. I liked Loredana she was brave, resilient and protective of her family, but I was frustrated by her because she didn't make great decisions. I enjoyed the interactions between Lore and her father, it was so sweet to see that she was close to him. I related to her because I'm very close to my dad too. I felt similar about Lore's friend Charlotte as well she had moments where I really liked her and her interactions with Lore, but other times I didn't. Edmund was okay, unfortunately I didn't fall in love with him. He was cruel in the beginning and then he was better and then I didn't like him again. He didn't communicate very well and kept changing his mind. Several of the side characters were well developed, but others I disliked very much. The romance had its moments when it was amazing and then other times it was underdeveloped. I really liked that the romance was slow-burn, but I didn't feel the connection between the love interests until the end. Also Lore could've been honest a lot earlier and then several problems wouldn't have occurred. The ending was very shocking and heartbreaking! Overall this book was great in the second half, but unfortunately the first half was underwhelming.
"All the while, I remind myself that blue is the sky and green is the grass. We exist together in the same world, but we are never meant to touch."
Unfortunately this book didn’t meet my expectations. The premise sounded great, a dystopian world with low-citizens (Green, Orange and Purple) and high-citizens (Blue) where safety is important, but I felt that the execution was lacking. The first half of the book was boring and the pacing was slow. The second half of the book was much better and the plot was more engaging. There were several plot twists in the second half that were very surprising! Additionally, the political intrigue was great and well thought out. The world building was well done and I enjoyed learning about how the low citizens differ from the high-citizens. I had mixed feelings about several of the characters. At first I didn't connect to any of the characters and their development was lacking, but the second half I liked more characters. I liked Loredana she was brave, resilient and protective of her family, but I was frustrated by her because she didn't make great decisions. I enjoyed the interactions between Lore and her father, it was so sweet to see that she was close to him. I related to her because I'm very close to my dad too. I felt similar about Lore's friend Charlotte as well she had moments where I really liked her and her interactions with Lore, but other times I didn't. Edmund was okay, unfortunately I didn't fall in love with him. He was cruel in the beginning and then he was better and then I didn't like him again. He didn't communicate very well and kept changing his mind. Several of the side characters were well developed, but others I disliked very much. The romance had its moments when it was amazing and then other times it was underdeveloped. I really liked that the romance was slow-burn, but I didn't feel the connection between the love interests until the end. Also Lore could've been honest a lot earlier and then several problems wouldn't have occurred. The ending was very shocking and heartbreaking! Overall this book was great in the second half, but unfortunately the first half was underwhelming.
May 18, 2026
I have such mixed feelings about this book. So much happened but also nothing?
May 31, 2026
4.75⭐️ Everyone needs to add this to their TBR immediately!!
This was good. Like, CRAZY good. The plot, dialogue, and world-building were all so original and immersive. I can confidently say it's unlike anything I have read before. Imagine a futuristic 1920s setting infused with The Great Gatsby vibes and old Hollywood glamour. This book gave me so much nostalgia for my pre-teen obsession with dystopian series. While it is more plot-heavy than romance-heavy, Edmund and Loredana had me giggling and kicking my feet every time they were on page together. The social and political commentary subtly woven throughout the narrative was also very interesting to pick apart.
And that ending?! I have SO many questions.
This was good. Like, CRAZY good. The plot, dialogue, and world-building were all so original and immersive. I can confidently say it's unlike anything I have read before. Imagine a futuristic 1920s setting infused with The Great Gatsby vibes and old Hollywood glamour. This book gave me so much nostalgia for my pre-teen obsession with dystopian series. While it is more plot-heavy than romance-heavy, Edmund and Loredana had me giggling and kicking my feet every time they were on page together. The social and political commentary subtly woven throughout the narrative was also very interesting to pick apart.
And that ending?! I have SO many questions.
May 31, 2026
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ & rounding up! A really good, unique time & will absolutely keep going with this series. Let’s get into it!
PLOT
Your blood is your worth, your skill, your status, your everything in public society. Lore has been a politician’s daughter & private citizen until now, sheltered from experiencing the true brutality of this world even while she watches public executions on TV. She’s headed to school where her battleground will now be being a low-class citizen in a world that punishes them — even with death — for the same slights high-class citizens walk away from. She’s got a secret that will make this even harder & put her life in constant danger.
- futuristic romantic dystopian
- societal caste system
- politiiiiiiics
- flapper x Blade Runner sort of vibes
- forbidden romance, slowwwww burn (no spice)
- NA but bordering on YA, I think she’s barely 18 to start
PROS
- UNIQUE. I’ve never read anything like this world-wise. Super clever to combine like, the roaring ‘20s jazz age with dueling & also futuristic tech & then also class warfare à la dystopia. Like it sounds like this could turn into a shit sandwich of conflicting premises super quick but it didn’t at all. It worked.
- & then on top of it being unique it was just really well built. I feel like the minute I had a question in my brain about “wait how would that work” I immediately got it answered.
- The world & history beyond our immediate story sounds interesting af & I am SUPER interested in learning more about this.
- Characters were well developed IMO.
- There were some VERYYYYY swoon-worthy lines/actions from our MMC here. I was loving the romantic development.
- I quite like the politics & the overall enemy being the system. There are of course individual players as antagonists, but the system’s oppression looms so heavily & I tend to enjoy those types of “bad guys”.
- Some real banger highlight-able lines for suuuuure. Really lovely writing throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed!
MIDS
- There’s a character that is an antagonist & I just don’t feel like we really understand their why enough. Like it’s explained but also not. So whenever this character is causing problems I was often trying to figure out the exact reason. Is it as petty as it seems? It can’t be. & we may figure this out in a future book, which is why I’m not putting it into con just yet.
CONS
- There were 2 big plot things that happened toward the end that felt convenient for me.
—- 1 felt like there was no pushback to a thing that there should have been at least *a little*. Even if we got to the exact same reveal, how it played out felt too convenient even if we knew the thing itself was gonna happen.
—- 2 just felt like “given what we know, this is outta nowhere & also seems wildly unlikely.” I think I quite literally said “there’s no fucking way” & not in an “I got bamboozled! Omg yay!” way but in a “this doesn’t make sense based on info provided”. & feels like a way to create a specific relationship dynamic for book 2. I don’t love when that feels obvious to me or that we sort of forced a thing to happen to do it.
Will DEF keep reading as this was super unique & the story rules!
PLOT
Your blood is your worth, your skill, your status, your everything in public society. Lore has been a politician’s daughter & private citizen until now, sheltered from experiencing the true brutality of this world even while she watches public executions on TV. She’s headed to school where her battleground will now be being a low-class citizen in a world that punishes them — even with death — for the same slights high-class citizens walk away from. She’s got a secret that will make this even harder & put her life in constant danger.
- futuristic romantic dystopian
- societal caste system
- politiiiiiiics
- flapper x Blade Runner sort of vibes
- forbidden romance, slowwwww burn (no spice)
- NA but bordering on YA, I think she’s barely 18 to start
PROS
- UNIQUE. I’ve never read anything like this world-wise. Super clever to combine like, the roaring ‘20s jazz age with dueling & also futuristic tech & then also class warfare à la dystopia. Like it sounds like this could turn into a shit sandwich of conflicting premises super quick but it didn’t at all. It worked.
- & then on top of it being unique it was just really well built. I feel like the minute I had a question in my brain about “wait how would that work” I immediately got it answered.
- The world & history beyond our immediate story sounds interesting af & I am SUPER interested in learning more about this.
- Characters were well developed IMO.
- There were some VERYYYYY swoon-worthy lines/actions from our MMC here. I was loving the romantic development.
- I quite like the politics & the overall enemy being the system. There are of course individual players as antagonists, but the system’s oppression looms so heavily & I tend to enjoy those types of “bad guys”.
- Some real banger highlight-able lines for suuuuure. Really lovely writing throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed!
MIDS
- There’s a character that is an antagonist & I just don’t feel like we really understand their why enough. Like it’s explained but also not. So whenever this character is causing problems I was often trying to figure out the exact reason. Is it as petty as it seems? It can’t be. & we may figure this out in a future book, which is why I’m not putting it into con just yet.
CONS
- There were 2 big plot things that happened toward the end that felt convenient for me.
—- 1 felt like there was no pushback to a thing that there should have been at least *a little*. Even if we got to the exact same reveal, how it played out felt too convenient even if we knew the thing itself was gonna happen.
—- 2 just felt like “given what we know, this is outta nowhere & also seems wildly unlikely.” I think I quite literally said “there’s no fucking way” & not in an “I got bamboozled! Omg yay!” way but in a “this doesn’t make sense based on info provided”. & feels like a way to create a specific relationship dynamic for book 2. I don’t love when that feels obvious to me or that we sort of forced a thing to happen to do it.
Will DEF keep reading as this was super unique & the story rules!
July 26, 2026
"ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪ'ᴅ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ, ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ, ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ."
Truly one of the best books I’ve read this year.
And honestly? I did not expect that going in.
This is not my usual genre, and when I first saw that it was a dystopian story set in a 1920s-inspired futuristic world with flying cars, I hesitated. It sounded like a lot for my brain to process. But wow. Just…. wow.
This is one of those books that completely consumes you. The kind where you stop feeling like you’re reading and start feeling like you’re living inside the pages. The writing is so immersive and beautifully done that I could see every scene, feel every moment of tension, and completely lose myself in this world.
The class system. The inequality. The secrets. The forbidden romance. The constant feeling that there was something much bigger happening beneath the surface. Every piece of this story pulled me deeper and deeper.
One of my favorite things about dystopian stories is watching people who have been pushed down for generations finally realize their own power, and this book absolutely delivered on that.
At its core, this is a story about oppression, control, identity, and what happens when people who have been silenced decide they are done being obedient. The society in this book was fascinating and heartbreaking because of how intentionally it was built to separate, categorize, and control its citizens.
The systems of power, the manufactured hierarchy, and the way people are taught to accept their place in the world made the fight against it feel even more powerful. There is something so satisfying about watching characters who have been told they are lesser, disposable, or unworthy begin to question everything they’ve been taught and fight for their freedom.
The tension wasn’t just about survival... it was about reclaiming identity, choice, and the right to decide your own future.
Loredana, my girl.
She is stubborn. Prideful. Fiercely determined. But underneath all of that is someone who is lost, trying to find her place in a world that has already decided her worth before she ever had a chance.
Watching her navigate a society that keeps her at the bottom because of the color she bleeds, while slowly uncovering the truth around her and growing into her own strength, was incredible.
I will always love a strong FMC, but what I loved about Loredana was that her strength wasn’t just about being fearless. It was about surviving. Questioning. Growing. Choosing herself even when the world told her she shouldn’t.
And Edmund Prew…
The man that you are.
Dark. Mysterious. Complicated. The kind of character who makes you want to uncover every scar, every secret, and every piece of his past that shaped him.
But beneath that intimidating exterior is someone with so much loyalty and heart for the people he chooses to protect. Edmund is not someone who gives trust easily, but when you earn it? You have it completely.
And when he loves?
He LOVES.
Despite bleeding two different colors in a society that has literally engineered and categorized its citizens from birth, the connection between Edmund and Loredana felt so painfully human.
Their love wasn’t just forbidden because of who they were — it was forbidden because the world they lived in was built to keep people like them apart.
Watching them choose each other again and again was devastatingly beautiful. Their devotion, their trust, and the way they see each other beyond the labels forced onto them was everything.
The side characters and found family were also something I didn’t know this story needed until I had it. They brought so much warmth, humor, and depth to a world that could have easily felt heavy. The mystery, the drama, the relationships, and the twists all worked together so beautifully.
And that ending???
I am spiraling.
The last 40% of this book had me wanting to tear my hair out. Every assumption I made? Destroyed. Every theory I thought I had figured out? Questioned.
The buildup felt like being strapped into a rollercoaster knowing the drop was coming, but still not being prepared for the free fall.
I finished this book and immediately entered the “I need everyone I know to read this so I have someone to scream with about my theories” stage.
I genuinely do not know what to do with myself besides beg anyone and everyone to pick this book up so I am no longer alone in my obsession.
A stunning world. Unforgettable characters. A devastatingly beautiful romance. A rebellion worth rooting for. And an ending that will haunt me until I get answers.
Please read this so I have someone to spiral with!!
Truly one of the best books I’ve read this year.
And honestly? I did not expect that going in.
This is not my usual genre, and when I first saw that it was a dystopian story set in a 1920s-inspired futuristic world with flying cars, I hesitated. It sounded like a lot for my brain to process. But wow. Just…. wow.
This is one of those books that completely consumes you. The kind where you stop feeling like you’re reading and start feeling like you’re living inside the pages. The writing is so immersive and beautifully done that I could see every scene, feel every moment of tension, and completely lose myself in this world.
The class system. The inequality. The secrets. The forbidden romance. The constant feeling that there was something much bigger happening beneath the surface. Every piece of this story pulled me deeper and deeper.
One of my favorite things about dystopian stories is watching people who have been pushed down for generations finally realize their own power, and this book absolutely delivered on that.
At its core, this is a story about oppression, control, identity, and what happens when people who have been silenced decide they are done being obedient. The society in this book was fascinating and heartbreaking because of how intentionally it was built to separate, categorize, and control its citizens.
The systems of power, the manufactured hierarchy, and the way people are taught to accept their place in the world made the fight against it feel even more powerful. There is something so satisfying about watching characters who have been told they are lesser, disposable, or unworthy begin to question everything they’ve been taught and fight for their freedom.
The tension wasn’t just about survival... it was about reclaiming identity, choice, and the right to decide your own future.
Loredana, my girl.
She is stubborn. Prideful. Fiercely determined. But underneath all of that is someone who is lost, trying to find her place in a world that has already decided her worth before she ever had a chance.
Watching her navigate a society that keeps her at the bottom because of the color she bleeds, while slowly uncovering the truth around her and growing into her own strength, was incredible.
I will always love a strong FMC, but what I loved about Loredana was that her strength wasn’t just about being fearless. It was about surviving. Questioning. Growing. Choosing herself even when the world told her she shouldn’t.
And Edmund Prew…
The man that you are.
Dark. Mysterious. Complicated. The kind of character who makes you want to uncover every scar, every secret, and every piece of his past that shaped him.
But beneath that intimidating exterior is someone with so much loyalty and heart for the people he chooses to protect. Edmund is not someone who gives trust easily, but when you earn it? You have it completely.
And when he loves?
He LOVES.
Despite bleeding two different colors in a society that has literally engineered and categorized its citizens from birth, the connection between Edmund and Loredana felt so painfully human.
Their love wasn’t just forbidden because of who they were — it was forbidden because the world they lived in was built to keep people like them apart.
Watching them choose each other again and again was devastatingly beautiful. Their devotion, their trust, and the way they see each other beyond the labels forced onto them was everything.
The side characters and found family were also something I didn’t know this story needed until I had it. They brought so much warmth, humor, and depth to a world that could have easily felt heavy. The mystery, the drama, the relationships, and the twists all worked together so beautifully.
And that ending???
I am spiraling.
The last 40% of this book had me wanting to tear my hair out. Every assumption I made? Destroyed. Every theory I thought I had figured out? Questioned.
The buildup felt like being strapped into a rollercoaster knowing the drop was coming, but still not being prepared for the free fall.
I finished this book and immediately entered the “I need everyone I know to read this so I have someone to scream with about my theories” stage.
I genuinely do not know what to do with myself besides beg anyone and everyone to pick this book up so I am no longer alone in my obsession.
A stunning world. Unforgettable characters. A devastatingly beautiful romance. A rebellion worth rooting for. And an ending that will haunt me until I get answers.
Please read this so I have someone to spiral with!!
August 9, 2026
This book was a bit like Pringles. I was excited to read it, enjoyed each chapter but it left a weird aftertaste that only got worse the further along the story I got. Like empty calories, temporarily satisfying until the taste fades and you either need to eat more which only makes it worse, or switch to real nutritious food.
The world building was done well with minimal info dumping and descriptions that made me feel like I was in the world with the characters. That being said, some of the descriptions were far too long for my taste and made me want to skip over them.
The book was just too long for me. Some scenes dragged like crazy, some felt wholly unnecessary and didn’t seem to bring much to the story. The fighting scenes especially, I ended up skipping most of them. Dialogues kept getting interrupted by lengthy internal reflections, so much so that I had to go back and re read the last dialogue line to remember what was going on.
The eugenics aspect isn’t explained enough (unless I missed something?). If everyone is genetically engineered, why not choose to give your baby the best of everything? Why are Greens stronger and Oranges more intelligent?
And why can’t they cross breed if they can literally engineer the genome of each baby?
The last 20% was so chaotic. It felt like the authors had too many ideas of where they wanted the story to go and just decided to try and fit them all in at once?! So much happened but not much of it was properly dealt with/reflected on and wrapped up properly.
The ending (that is the very last plot twist on the last chapter) was super predictable.
Dickie was a bit pointless and such an annoying character. Calling women ‘broad’ just rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to throw my kindle at the wall every time.
The romance just didn’t land for me. The build up to it was so promising, seeing Loredana’s feelings grow for Ed, the yearning, and all the cute little things he did for her had me swooning… But when they finally get together it was a bit weird idk?
Spoilers below
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ed nearly biting a snake’s head off minutes before kissing Loredana, just… why? And they kiss while riding a galloping horse, someone please explain to me how that would work?! Then it just speeds past the beginning of their relationship montage style. That was so so disappointing!
I hate the third act breakup trope so obviously hated that part and it just felt forced purely for shock.
Loredana eating the monkey’s shit… wtf?! That was so unnecessary and gross. Didn’t fit the theme of the book in any way shape or form, and just made me feel sick.
Also I don’t understand why Charlotte decided kissing Ed was the best way to end things with Jack rather than have a conversation with him? That’s like the miscommunication trope but 10 times worse…
The world building was done well with minimal info dumping and descriptions that made me feel like I was in the world with the characters. That being said, some of the descriptions were far too long for my taste and made me want to skip over them.
The book was just too long for me. Some scenes dragged like crazy, some felt wholly unnecessary and didn’t seem to bring much to the story. The fighting scenes especially, I ended up skipping most of them. Dialogues kept getting interrupted by lengthy internal reflections, so much so that I had to go back and re read the last dialogue line to remember what was going on.
The eugenics aspect isn’t explained enough (unless I missed something?). If everyone is genetically engineered, why not choose to give your baby the best of everything? Why are Greens stronger and Oranges more intelligent?
And why can’t they cross breed if they can literally engineer the genome of each baby?
The last 20% was so chaotic. It felt like the authors had too many ideas of where they wanted the story to go and just decided to try and fit them all in at once?! So much happened but not much of it was properly dealt with/reflected on and wrapped up properly.
The ending (that is the very last plot twist on the last chapter) was super predictable.
Dickie was a bit pointless and such an annoying character. Calling women ‘broad’ just rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to throw my kindle at the wall every time.
The romance just didn’t land for me. The build up to it was so promising, seeing Loredana’s feelings grow for Ed, the yearning, and all the cute little things he did for her had me swooning… But when they finally get together it was a bit weird idk?
Spoilers below
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ed nearly biting a snake’s head off minutes before kissing Loredana, just… why? And they kiss while riding a galloping horse, someone please explain to me how that would work?! Then it just speeds past the beginning of their relationship montage style. That was so so disappointing!
I hate the third act breakup trope so obviously hated that part and it just felt forced purely for shock.
Loredana eating the monkey’s shit… wtf?! That was so unnecessary and gross. Didn’t fit the theme of the book in any way shape or form, and just made me feel sick.
Also I don’t understand why Charlotte decided kissing Ed was the best way to end things with Jack rather than have a conversation with him? That’s like the miscommunication trope but 10 times worse…
May 13, 2026
➡️ Follow This Link For My Bookstagram!
A SIX ⭐️ GOSH DAMN masterpiece.. I need to gather myself before I write my thoughts but just know this book has consumed me and it’s my new personality.
Releasing May 13, 2026
I am begging you to mark your calendars!
How in the world am I supposed to pick up another book after this one? When I say this story consumed me, I mean I almost read 500 pages in a single day because I physically could not stop.
There’s so much to unpack here, but I’m going to try.
This world gave very strong Great Gatsby vibes. Everyone is expected to be polished, proper, and painfully careful with their words in public. Formal introductions. Perfect posture. Perfect appearances. But behind closed doors, inside their salons and inner circles, people finally speak like real humans. That contrast added so much tension to the story because every interaction felt dangerous.
The story follows Loredana Waldsten, a green low-citizen who already knows exactly what it costs to break the rules after killing a blue high-citizen during a brutal attack years before. Now she’s been stripped of the right to carry weapons, legally forbidden from defending herself, and forced into the elite Grandmaster University where reputations are built on death duels, power, and survival.
From the very beginning, you’re thrown into this massive world where Bloody Sundays exist. Citizens who lose their civil credits are publicly executed, and somehow it’s always the low-citizens paying the price while the high-citizens walk away untouched. There’s also a drug called Bliss woven into the political conflict, and Loredana’s father, a politician fighting to ban it, sparks controversy that puts an even larger target on her back at the university.
Then Edmund Prew enters the story, and EVERYTHING changes.
Edmund comes from one of the powerful high-citizen families, and his family has hated Loredana’s for years. After losing a bet, he’s forced to bring her into his inner circle and protect her, even though being associated with her could destroy him socially. What starts as this strategic alliance slowly turns into something so much deeper, filled with tension, lingering looks, soft touches, and the kind of yearning that actually makes your chest hurt.
What makes their relationship even more dangerous is that Loredana and Edmund are never supposed to be together in the first place. She’s a Green, he’s a Blue, and in their world those lines are not meant to be crossed. Relationships between classes are seen as scandalous, illegal, and a threat to the social order they’ve built everything around. If they’re caught, the consequences aren’t just whispers and ruined reputations. They could literally face the guillotine. So every stolen touch, every secret meeting, and every moment between them feels forbidden in the most terrifying way possible
I’m not kidding when I say I will never look at seashells, mud, or daffodils the same way again. Edmund was written so beautifully it honestly hurt. This man was written by women in the best possible way, and somehow Edith Birde managed to make him feel both impossibly soft and dangerously sharp at the same time. He permanently stamped a piece of this story onto my soul.
The found family in this book was incredible too. The side characters felt real, layered, and deeply important to the story. I adored Dickie and genuinely wish I could be friends with him in real life. And Charlotte… her relationship with Loredana meant so much to me. That scene toward the end absolutely wrecked me once you fully understand what their friendship truly represents.
This book balances worldbuilding, politics, class division, social tension, and brutal survival so well while still delivering a romance that completely CONSUMED me. Every piece worked together perfectly. Every moment between them feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Everything felt so poetic and vivid that it played like a movie in my head the entire time I was reading. The descriptions, the tension, the emotions, the dialogue… all of it felt so intentional and immersive. This is not a story you simply read and move on from. This is one that crawls under your skin and stays there long after the final page.
Vibes:
✨ Roaring 20s
🖤 Forbidden love
⚔️ Class divisions
🎓 Elite university setting
🩸 Bloody trials & public executions
👀 Lingering yearning
🔥 Tension-filled romance
🫶 Found family
🎭 Political intrigue
💊 Dangerous drug
📖 Poetic writing
🎬 Feels like a movie in your head
🐚 Symbolism that will ruin you forever
💐 Daffodils that now mean too much
😭 Characters that stay with you
📚 Massive immersive world-building
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley/Booksirens for the eARC!
A SIX ⭐️ GOSH DAMN masterpiece.. I need to gather myself before I write my thoughts but just know this book has consumed me and it’s my new personality.
Releasing May 13, 2026
I am begging you to mark your calendars!
How in the world am I supposed to pick up another book after this one? When I say this story consumed me, I mean I almost read 500 pages in a single day because I physically could not stop.
There’s so much to unpack here, but I’m going to try.
This world gave very strong Great Gatsby vibes. Everyone is expected to be polished, proper, and painfully careful with their words in public. Formal introductions. Perfect posture. Perfect appearances. But behind closed doors, inside their salons and inner circles, people finally speak like real humans. That contrast added so much tension to the story because every interaction felt dangerous.
The story follows Loredana Waldsten, a green low-citizen who already knows exactly what it costs to break the rules after killing a blue high-citizen during a brutal attack years before. Now she’s been stripped of the right to carry weapons, legally forbidden from defending herself, and forced into the elite Grandmaster University where reputations are built on death duels, power, and survival.
From the very beginning, you’re thrown into this massive world where Bloody Sundays exist. Citizens who lose their civil credits are publicly executed, and somehow it’s always the low-citizens paying the price while the high-citizens walk away untouched. There’s also a drug called Bliss woven into the political conflict, and Loredana’s father, a politician fighting to ban it, sparks controversy that puts an even larger target on her back at the university.
Then Edmund Prew enters the story, and EVERYTHING changes.
Edmund comes from one of the powerful high-citizen families, and his family has hated Loredana’s for years. After losing a bet, he’s forced to bring her into his inner circle and protect her, even though being associated with her could destroy him socially. What starts as this strategic alliance slowly turns into something so much deeper, filled with tension, lingering looks, soft touches, and the kind of yearning that actually makes your chest hurt.
What makes their relationship even more dangerous is that Loredana and Edmund are never supposed to be together in the first place. She’s a Green, he’s a Blue, and in their world those lines are not meant to be crossed. Relationships between classes are seen as scandalous, illegal, and a threat to the social order they’ve built everything around. If they’re caught, the consequences aren’t just whispers and ruined reputations. They could literally face the guillotine. So every stolen touch, every secret meeting, and every moment between them feels forbidden in the most terrifying way possible
I’m not kidding when I say I will never look at seashells, mud, or daffodils the same way again. Edmund was written so beautifully it honestly hurt. This man was written by women in the best possible way, and somehow Edith Birde managed to make him feel both impossibly soft and dangerously sharp at the same time. He permanently stamped a piece of this story onto my soul.
The found family in this book was incredible too. The side characters felt real, layered, and deeply important to the story. I adored Dickie and genuinely wish I could be friends with him in real life. And Charlotte… her relationship with Loredana meant so much to me. That scene toward the end absolutely wrecked me once you fully understand what their friendship truly represents.
This book balances worldbuilding, politics, class division, social tension, and brutal survival so well while still delivering a romance that completely CONSUMED me. Every piece worked together perfectly. Every moment between them feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Everything felt so poetic and vivid that it played like a movie in my head the entire time I was reading. The descriptions, the tension, the emotions, the dialogue… all of it felt so intentional and immersive. This is not a story you simply read and move on from. This is one that crawls under your skin and stays there long after the final page.
Vibes:
✨ Roaring 20s
🖤 Forbidden love
⚔️ Class divisions
🎓 Elite university setting
🩸 Bloody trials & public executions
👀 Lingering yearning
🔥 Tension-filled romance
🫶 Found family
🎭 Political intrigue
💊 Dangerous drug
📖 Poetic writing
🎬 Feels like a movie in your head
🐚 Symbolism that will ruin you forever
💐 Daffodils that now mean too much
😭 Characters that stay with you
📚 Massive immersive world-building
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley/Booksirens for the eARC!
May 28, 2026
Why the MOTHER FUCK would they end the book like that??!!??!????? You’re kidding me….
“Hell, Loredana—you might even be right. Edmund Prew might be a flower in a field of grenades, but guess what? You’re still standing in a fucking minefield.”
Look….a futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian series that also somehow takes place in the roaring 20s, while also being in a cutthroat academy setting (where they fight to the death by fencing duels) primarily about the systemic oppression of society ruled by classism with a to-die-for forbidden romance shouldn’t work. But it does. But it works BEYOND anything I ever expected.
I haven’t been so addicted to a story that I stay up till 6am because I couldn’t put it down in so long. Absolutely so fresh and captivating. Holy god. This world is one you will immediately get lost in. It’s so rich from the technology and hover cars, their little tablets they are all connected to, the robots who help them and serve them in juxtaposition with the flapper outfits, the cigarettes and cigarette holders, calling eachother darling, going tap dancing at da clubbbbb. I could not put this down.
“I knew myself before her. With her, I know myself better. But if there were ever an after her, I’d become a stranger to myself.”
I love all the characters and the banter is soooooo good. The tension is unbearable. Mr. Darcy hand flex unbearable. And it’s going to be even hotter the next book. I expect some good ass character arcs incoming.
Highly recommend not reading the blurb about the book, it has a huge spoiler that isn’t revealed until like 60% in the book! Also if you care, it ends on a huge cliff hanger and there’s currently no release date for the sequel (I suspect this will be getting picked up by a trad publisher which might prolong that too idk!) and there’s no spice but it didn’t need it imo
Also Dickie I hope your pillow is always cold and you get cake for breakfast lunch and dinner every day!!!!!!
“Hell, Loredana—you might even be right. Edmund Prew might be a flower in a field of grenades, but guess what? You’re still standing in a fucking minefield.”
Look….a futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian series that also somehow takes place in the roaring 20s, while also being in a cutthroat academy setting (where they fight to the death by fencing duels) primarily about the systemic oppression of society ruled by classism with a to-die-for forbidden romance shouldn’t work. But it does. But it works BEYOND anything I ever expected.
I haven’t been so addicted to a story that I stay up till 6am because I couldn’t put it down in so long. Absolutely so fresh and captivating. Holy god. This world is one you will immediately get lost in. It’s so rich from the technology and hover cars, their little tablets they are all connected to, the robots who help them and serve them in juxtaposition with the flapper outfits, the cigarettes and cigarette holders, calling eachother darling, going tap dancing at da clubbbbb. I could not put this down.
“I knew myself before her. With her, I know myself better. But if there were ever an after her, I’d become a stranger to myself.”
I love all the characters and the banter is soooooo good. The tension is unbearable. Mr. Darcy hand flex unbearable. And it’s going to be even hotter the next book. I expect some good ass character arcs incoming.
Highly recommend not reading the blurb about the book, it has a huge spoiler that isn’t revealed until like 60% in the book! Also if you care, it ends on a huge cliff hanger and there’s currently no release date for the sequel (I suspect this will be getting picked up by a trad publisher which might prolong that too idk!) and there’s no spice but it didn’t need it imo
Also Dickie I hope your pillow is always cold and you get cake for breakfast lunch and dinner every day!!!!!!
May 31, 2026
Did I miss something? Did we all read the same book?
The way people are rating this, I thought I was about to read the next dystopian masterpiece.
Instead, I got cool futuristic technology, random fencing, and a romance so underdeveloped that I genuinely checked if I had skipped chapters.
One minute it’s “ma’am” and “sir,” the next we’re supposed to believe these people are deeply in love. Where was the chemistry? Where was the build-up?
And the heroine being chosen for an undercover mission despite having the survival instincts of a soggy piece of bread was certainly… a choice.
The premise had so much potential, but between the insta-love, the pointless third-act drama, and a plot that took forever to go anywhere, this one was a miss for me.
What a waste of a great concept
The way people are rating this, I thought I was about to read the next dystopian masterpiece.
Instead, I got cool futuristic technology, random fencing, and a romance so underdeveloped that I genuinely checked if I had skipped chapters.
One minute it’s “ma’am” and “sir,” the next we’re supposed to believe these people are deeply in love. Where was the chemistry? Where was the build-up?
And the heroine being chosen for an undercover mission despite having the survival instincts of a soggy piece of bread was certainly… a choice.
The premise had so much potential, but between the insta-love, the pointless third-act drama, and a plot that took forever to go anywhere, this one was a miss for me.
What a waste of a great concept
June 27, 2026
Wow... this was so GOOD! I was invested from page one and very stressed through the whole book! The romance, the world building, even the villains were really well done! But let's make one thing clear: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING?!
May 23, 2026
I thought this was pretty good until I felt like I’d been reading it for 5 years. This felt like the longest book ever and nothing was happening. I don’t regret the time I spent on it because it was a good idea but I didn’t finish it. I don’t even know how much I had left because I kept thinking it was over and then another chapter would start. This one needs a good editor.
May 17, 2026
The premise had promise but the writing and execution fell flat. The writing style was juvenile. I wanted to like it but just didn’t.
June 20, 2026
I have no words to explain how this book made me feel
edit: i cannot stop thinking about this book, i need the next one immediately 😩
edit: i cannot stop thinking about this book, i need the next one immediately 😩
July 14, 2026
This book was AMAZING! What an incredible blend of genres with a top tier storyline and cliffhanger ending. Highly invested, no spice (awesome breath of fresh air) and lots of emotional roller coasters.
Will definitely be continuing this series. Must read!
I love the slow building romance and am fighting every page for the love between our FMC and an unlikely love match. I honestly hated for this book to end because the amount if shady actions between the Elites and the plebs was off the chart. I definitely was choosing sides in this story and was emotionally invested in the outcome. Hard to wait for another novel but I am excited to see where it goes.
Will definitely be continuing this series. Must read!
I love the slow building romance and am fighting every page for the love between our FMC and an unlikely love match. I honestly hated for this book to end because the amount if shady actions between the Elites and the plebs was off the chart. I definitely was choosing sides in this story and was emotionally invested in the outcome. Hard to wait for another novel but I am excited to see where it goes.
June 18, 2026
Oh how I hate this book. It started off somewhat strong, but in truth, I was waiting until half way through for the book to get good and then it completely fell apart. The unravelling started post Loredana and Edmund coupling up and completely fell apart circa monkey shit eating.
A lot of the dystopian world building gave me Divergent vibes, if only a bit better. While I appreciate that the authors didn’t want to give you all the exposition right at the start, what it ended up being was completely nonsensical. Also the culture of the world felt so under developed, I could never believe it. 1920’s culture with a sudden injection of futuristic elements. It doesn’t make sense in the world of the book, or even in practice. What do you mean they fight with graphene sabers? Why is everyone carrying a weapon? Why are Death Duels even a thing? Also, given totalitarian the government is, you’d assume with all these technological advancements that all Bonds would be monitored, to catch Heritics and Vulgars.
This also needed serious editing. A lot of the descriptions don’t make sense at all, not to mention all my issues with the plot. For example, during the surfing scene with the whole gang, Loredana is gripping Ed around the neck while he’s paddling with his arms and her feet are flying behind her. But also in the next sentence, his feet are planted as he grabs the rails, the next he quickly switches them around and she’s crouched in front of him. What?! Is this a jet ski? Is this a surfboard?? When I got to the end and saw that the book was written by two people, that made the source of a lot of the inconsistencies much clearer. Also, How are they kissing on a galloping horse whose top speed is 100 mph? Hello??!!!
In no particular order, my gripes with the book are:
1. Vulgars are illegal and will be executed, by what differentiates a Vulgar from what these two are doing? Is it just sex? Is it trying to have a baby?
2. How are so many people being executed on a daily basis? Whenever it’s mentioned, there’s always more than one, so are more than 500 students being killed every year? Given that they’re a small portion of the world, and how rigid their baby making system is, how are they not extinct by now after 200 years of this?
3. What is the plot? Is it just Lore trying to stay alive? Is that it? To me, the whole story was so disjointed where it went from Academia Romance Drama to Dystopian Hellscape to Politics Whatever.
4. Entourages. Why? I truly don’t understand why any Blue would choose to have an entourage, outside of Edmund. Like why does Lily want a group of low-citizens just following her around? What does she truly gain out of protecting them? The initial point of they ask for sexual services also falls apart once the concept of Vulgars is introduced.
5. The whole friendship with Charlotte was actually the first whiplash. Lore went from not even wanting to look at her to forgiving her in an instant. Charlotte’s justification truly didn’t make sense to me. The second was the whole Edmund third act behavior. You mean he gives her Bliss, removes her from his entourage (which is what enabled the whole credit drain thing anyway), and insults her family and her father and we just forgive that in a instant? because he did it to protect her? I call bullshit.
6. The shit eating scene. What the actual fuck was that? We’ve established Rosamund is crazy (why? we don’t fully know beyond abuse and drugs. But her obsession with Edmund and Jack, your guess is as good as mine), so her asking Lore to eat shit so she would let go of Charlotte. In what world would Rosamund actually let go following the shit eating? News flash, she doesn’t here either. Henry pulls her off of Charlotte. This scene nearly made me DNF, but the end was in sight.
7. Loredana actually has no regard for consequence. Giving her energy shield to Croft? Revealing to everyone that her weapons restriction is lifted? Dropping her earring and making no attempt to retrieve it before answering Hillaire’s call (she says she only calls when it can’t wait, but she didn’t end up talking to her dad until a month later anyway)? Taking the Brasscoat offer? She could’ve just kept the Aegis until the section 27 thing was resolved as Jerome offered but she decided to immediately jump into the Brasscoat plot, which makes no sense! She has to go back to lying to everyone right after all her lies were lifted off her.
8. Edmund’s scratches. Why was it ever assumed that a mistress was clawing at him so severely she would draw blood all over his face. From his first scene, it made no sense to me that who they assumed to be Irene was drawing all that blood. In what world does a sexual, non abusive encounter do that? His relationship with his mother also doesn’t make sense to me, where he says he takes the abuse because he can’t see her blood spilt or whatever. I totally and completely understand him not fighting back against his mother, but the haughty way he speaks to her when Lore is spying then taking a complete 180 seconds later. His initial haughtiness and confidence don’t mesh with his discipline in the face of the abuse. Also, does his mother have claws???? How is she flaying his skin, and cutting him down to the bone?
9. The sequel bait ending.
I have so much more to say and so many more problems with this book. I genuinely can’t understand why anyone would rate this higher than 3 stars. My 2 stars feel generous in all honesty. I’m only giving it that much because the writing wasn’t bad, just in desperate need of editing and oversight, and for the hope I had for the first half of this book. The yearning got me, but that quickly fell short when it turned into a romantic montage only one chapter later.
A lot of the dystopian world building gave me Divergent vibes, if only a bit better. While I appreciate that the authors didn’t want to give you all the exposition right at the start, what it ended up being was completely nonsensical. Also the culture of the world felt so under developed, I could never believe it. 1920’s culture with a sudden injection of futuristic elements. It doesn’t make sense in the world of the book, or even in practice. What do you mean they fight with graphene sabers? Why is everyone carrying a weapon? Why are Death Duels even a thing? Also, given totalitarian the government is, you’d assume with all these technological advancements that all Bonds would be monitored, to catch Heritics and Vulgars.
This also needed serious editing. A lot of the descriptions don’t make sense at all, not to mention all my issues with the plot. For example, during the surfing scene with the whole gang, Loredana is gripping Ed around the neck while he’s paddling with his arms and her feet are flying behind her. But also in the next sentence, his feet are planted as he grabs the rails, the next he quickly switches them around and she’s crouched in front of him. What?! Is this a jet ski? Is this a surfboard?? When I got to the end and saw that the book was written by two people, that made the source of a lot of the inconsistencies much clearer. Also, How are they kissing on a galloping horse whose top speed is 100 mph? Hello??!!!
In no particular order, my gripes with the book are:
1. Vulgars are illegal and will be executed, by what differentiates a Vulgar from what these two are doing? Is it just sex? Is it trying to have a baby?
2. How are so many people being executed on a daily basis? Whenever it’s mentioned, there’s always more than one, so are more than 500 students being killed every year? Given that they’re a small portion of the world, and how rigid their baby making system is, how are they not extinct by now after 200 years of this?
3. What is the plot? Is it just Lore trying to stay alive? Is that it? To me, the whole story was so disjointed where it went from Academia Romance Drama to Dystopian Hellscape to Politics Whatever.
4. Entourages. Why? I truly don’t understand why any Blue would choose to have an entourage, outside of Edmund. Like why does Lily want a group of low-citizens just following her around? What does she truly gain out of protecting them? The initial point of they ask for sexual services also falls apart once the concept of Vulgars is introduced.
5. The whole friendship with Charlotte was actually the first whiplash. Lore went from not even wanting to look at her to forgiving her in an instant. Charlotte’s justification truly didn’t make sense to me. The second was the whole Edmund third act behavior. You mean he gives her Bliss, removes her from his entourage (which is what enabled the whole credit drain thing anyway), and insults her family and her father and we just forgive that in a instant? because he did it to protect her? I call bullshit.
6. The shit eating scene. What the actual fuck was that? We’ve established Rosamund is crazy (why? we don’t fully know beyond abuse and drugs. But her obsession with Edmund and Jack, your guess is as good as mine), so her asking Lore to eat shit so she would let go of Charlotte. In what world would Rosamund actually let go following the shit eating? News flash, she doesn’t here either. Henry pulls her off of Charlotte. This scene nearly made me DNF, but the end was in sight.
7. Loredana actually has no regard for consequence. Giving her energy shield to Croft? Revealing to everyone that her weapons restriction is lifted? Dropping her earring and making no attempt to retrieve it before answering Hillaire’s call (she says she only calls when it can’t wait, but she didn’t end up talking to her dad until a month later anyway)? Taking the Brasscoat offer? She could’ve just kept the Aegis until the section 27 thing was resolved as Jerome offered but she decided to immediately jump into the Brasscoat plot, which makes no sense! She has to go back to lying to everyone right after all her lies were lifted off her.
8. Edmund’s scratches. Why was it ever assumed that a mistress was clawing at him so severely she would draw blood all over his face. From his first scene, it made no sense to me that who they assumed to be Irene was drawing all that blood. In what world does a sexual, non abusive encounter do that? His relationship with his mother also doesn’t make sense to me, where he says he takes the abuse because he can’t see her blood spilt or whatever. I totally and completely understand him not fighting back against his mother, but the haughty way he speaks to her when Lore is spying then taking a complete 180 seconds later. His initial haughtiness and confidence don’t mesh with his discipline in the face of the abuse. Also, does his mother have claws???? How is she flaying his skin, and cutting him down to the bone?
9. The sequel bait ending.
I have so much more to say and so many more problems with this book. I genuinely can’t understand why anyone would rate this higher than 3 stars. My 2 stars feel generous in all honesty. I’m only giving it that much because the writing wasn’t bad, just in desperate need of editing and oversight, and for the hope I had for the first half of this book. The yearning got me, but that quickly fell short when it turned into a romantic montage only one chapter later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2026
EVERYONE READ THIS
IMMEDIATELY
IMMEDIATELY
June 2, 2026
I’m so confused, I don’t understand the reviews on this one. The setting was confusing, the class system was color based (Pierce Brown called…) the political issues made no sense… and I’m a person who reads a lot, like a book every 2-3 days. I couldn’t motivate myself to keep going on this and I called it after 3 days of choosing to scroll threads about the Summer House scandal instead of reading this book. (And I don’t even watch Summer House.)
I feel like a really missed something here, this one was just not for me.
I feel like a really missed something here, this one was just not for me.
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