This book is truly phenomenal! I am calling it, this is my favourite read of the year! It deals with oppression from a controlling Government, misogyny, magic, love, idealism, and the power to overcome corruption. Tarisai is a fantastic protagonist that must find her own way to individuality, redemption, and love. She must combat systemic oppression, a demonic force bent on the destruction of their realm, and her own mind (which has been made to be controlled and ordered to murder). Tarisai is loyal, but she also questions her Government and the choices they are making. She wonders why women are treated as second class citizens, why only one group of children is sacrificed to the demons, and why she feels the urge to enact lasting change for the betterment of her people. She smoothes Dayo's edges and she stops herself countless times from speaking up in order to help him lead. But why, why must she silence herself on something so important? The world building was exceptional. I could picture the places, I could hear the songs being sung by the children, the magic system was well formulated, there were fairies, demons, court intrigue, hidden history, and a mystery that unfolds involving Tarisai and her mother, The Lady. The magic system is gifts that certain people have inherited. For Tarisai she is able to uncover memories, sooth memories, hide memories. I found this ability to be very interesting and I liked how she learned to adapt it and to grow it. But it also made her feared by the servants at her isolated home, as they would not touch her willingly from fear of her stealing their minds. This made her upbringing even lonelier, the only one to ever touch her was her mother. But, when she moved in with Dayo, she used her gift to sooth others to sleep, she was able to touch others and be seen as important, to be seen as good instead of terrifying. I adore a found family, and this book's found family was so stinking wonderful. I loved them with my whole heart. Dayo is calm, rational, and caring. Sanjeet is treated badly due to his size and abilities, but he has a heart of gold and wishes only to heal others. Kirah is loyal and loves Tarisai, helping her when others lose their trust in her. Woo In is damaged by his past and by the plight of his people, he is working hard to try to find a way to save the children of Songland (those who are sacrificed to the demons). Together they are a formidable force. I also liked that the antagonist changes throughout the novel. You think everything is so crystal clear, that you have a Governing body that cares for its citizens and a women who wants the King and his son dead. But, as the story unfolds you begin to see cracks in the facade. Things are not so easily defined, the Governing body is not infallible, maybe The Lady has a reason for her treason. This book makes you reflect on good and bad, on the grey in between, on our choices and how they affect others. Who deserves mercy and who deserves condemnation and why. This book also talks about parents and their trying to assert their will over their children. But also about the resilience of children in making their own decisions, in choosing their own fates, in questioning what they believe to be wrong in the world, to question things their parents do that are wrong. It is a book about fate and destiny and whether someone has to play into it or whether they can fight it and find their own path. Read this book! Read it! I cannot wait for Redemptor, book two, as this one ended so well and I cannot wait to see what Tarisai and her found family have to deal with next.
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