I found myself drawn to the premise and promise of this book as soon as I started it. I thought about the book while I wasn’t reading it and was eager to return to certain parts of it, hooked by a character. For me, that was enough to overlook the few flaws I ran into.

The writing is gritty and raw, Zaina and Javes chapters really setting a tone that some sensitive readers may be unnerved by, but hooks others in. As I am one who got hooked, I was entranced by the world and the intriguing set up of Windwalkers (which are basically a race of people who collect ancient, odd objects and survive in the desert by wearing wrappings like a mummy) and Dust Devils (which are basically icefire desert tornadoes, from what I understand) that both played a large part in Javes job of being a young meteorologist apprentice whose Teacher died, and also Zaina’s life. There are compelling questions and discoveries about the people, the past war with icefire, and the oncoming war with Arainia. When violent, bad people want something, you have to fight like hell to keep it.

*Read my full review here
*I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.