MeowMeow

I was all set for this to be a deliciously wicked 5-star read with some wickedly clever characters, but just a few chapters in and I was already disappointed. The characters were not clever but contrived and cliche and just so boringly common ... and the worst part is that they believe they are the smartest people in the room. You know who's simultaneously the smartest and so-naive-as-to-get-tricked people in the room are? Us readers, who figured out exactly who was behind the assassination plot as soon as those characters were introduced – and who got this book in the first place thinking we were going to get something so much better. I cry for us all.

Imagine yourself sitting in your favorite place (an armchair, a sofa, whatever). Imagine the temperature at just the right degree that you love, and you are wearing the most comfortable clothes ever, feeling contented and cozy. Sipping your favorite drink, just allowing your mind to drift into thoughts that make you feel good.

That's what reading this book is like. Fair warning that yes, it can be slow, but it's the kind of deliberate slowness that makes you savor it like a hot chocolate on a chilly morning. There were times when I had tears sliding down my face when reading about the realizations that the characters had, feeling a quiet pain in my heart in acknowledgment.

I know I can be pretty harsh when I rate/review books, especially ones that disappoint me greatly because in that moment of emotion I feel betrayed and foolish for wasting my time. But when I do come across a book that gets my cold, bitter heart feeling a rush of warmth, I pay attention.

This is a character-driven story through and through. You won't go on an adventure, nor will you fight enemies or save the world. But that's not what this book is about. If you're willing to read a character study and allow yourself to let go of expectations for a plot-driven story, then you will be in the right mindset to read this book.

Would have been 5 stars if not for the rushed, somewhat unsatisfying ending.

Outstanding, riveting. Full of fun characters and action. I loved the prequel novella, and this was such a treat to read as it's a proper-sized novel. The characters were great.

MC is infuriating and stupid.