I flew through this book on audio, because I was sucked in by the enticing dark academia world. Where elites control magic and everyone else struggles to survive. Ash's father is a prestigious alchemic professor, but has wanted nothing to do with him since birth. His mother passed, leaving him to find his own way, desperate to have power and prestige. He is willing to fight for those rights, making sure to tell those elites just what he thinks of the unjust societal structure. Especially the hypocrisy of his father saying magic should be for the people but then continuing to hold up a corrupt ruling class. Ramsay is looking for the Book of Source to destroy it, after their parents were executed for mass murder. Ramsay is seeking truth and to show that they are nothing like their parents. So, it was a collision of worlds between them and Ash. They fought often about the ruling class, licensing, with Ramsay upholding the rule of law. But, as the book went on Ramsay began to see the injustice of the world they inhabit. Especially as an outcast, it was easier for Ramsay to understand and even love Ash. To want to help Ash for more than just what Ash could give them. When Ash is arrested after protecting himself and Ramsay from being killed, Ramsay escapes with the promise to hopefully meet up with Ash if Ash is able to break out and follow. Luckily for Ash his father finally steps in on his behalf, albeit for his own reasons, but Ash is tasked with being servant to Callum, son of House Kendrick (leader of the redguard, "protectors" of New Anglia). Callum has a history with Ramsay, both friendship and romance, and also seems less blood-thirsty than his family. Together Ash and Callum decide to run away in order to find Ramsay and help destroy the book. This was a dark book and dealt a lot with classism and religion. There is one sect that uses religion to justify the murder of magic users, who also takes in orphans (possibly for dastardly reasons). They hate magic and want to rid the world of it, but secretly use it themselves. Power imbalance is in abundance, both with the rich and poor, but also within the houses. I was frustrated with how the book seemed to suggest that you are born into a system and that it is not your fault if you have more, as though those in the higher class should not be blamed for their own wealth and privilege and should not be held accountable. But, I think that was just one of the characters learning and growing. The three dynamic of this relationship worked really well for this novel, adding much needed depth and light in an otherwise bleak world. Ash loves Ramsay, but as he and Callum work together to find Ramsay they begin to form a bond just as strong. As well, Ramsay and Callum have a past relationship, in which Callum did not shun Ramsay for their parent's indiscretions. Two of them are strong, but the three of them together are almost indestructible. It was also interesting to see how the magic system worked and how adept at using alchemy Ash was, especially when confronting the book and death itself, and how having Ramsay and Callum beside him made Ash even more powerful, more observant of all that is around him, and more willing to speak up for himself and others. I also loved that by the end of the novel Ash realized he did not desire power and privilege, but just the right to use magic and a family with which he could belong and be loved.
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