Initial Reaction: ...damn... I should've checked out the wicked king when I was at the library today. *in Pooh bears voice* Oh bother 😐

Where do I even begin?? It's seriously been too long since I've read a story thay can magically take me away from reality. A book like this that makes me want to read it slowly so I can savor it! Alast it had to come to an end and it was amazing!!!

I didn't know what to expect when I first picked it up. I knew it had High Fae in it so I instantly thought of ACOTAR, but I didn't want another story like that. I thought to myself no please don't be something like, not again; it wasn't!!

Holly Black surprised me from page one as she told me the story of a mortal twin, Jude, who tries to find her place in Faerie. A world of magic that exist right next door to the mortal world. She was brought to Faerie when she was a young girl after her parents were murdered; now her and her sisters try and make the best of their new home.

Jude tries to fit in while also trying to stay alive. As a mortal she can be glamoured (a faeire can have power over her by commanding her) and the food can also be dangerous to her. Also the Gentry in her class are cruel to her and her sister when they go to their classes, but Jude doesnt stay quiet for long.

Jude is a fighter, she takes what she's learned from her adoptive father (the king's general) and works toward knighthood. The sword fighting scenes were some of my favorite!

I also enjoyed the mystery in the story that held the book together. There's a mystery of what the Faerie world was before Jude was brought to it. As Jude works to find her place in Faerie she starts to piece together the mystery and realizes just how big her problems really are.

I was certain about two parts of the mystery but I still found the story thrilling and the ending surprising. Holly Black has a way with words, an amazing imagination and beautiful characterization! I cannot wait to dive into the second book, Jude is my girl!! 😍😍😍