I’ve always loved Renata, Castian and Leo but this is where I fell head over heels in love with Castian, I’ve always known there’s something more to him than just being the Matahermano. Still, the greatest danger is within Renata - the Gray, her fortress of stolen memories, has begun to crumble, threatening her grip on reality.

All props are designed to pack down effectively for transport and most of the illusions can be performed surrounded or with audiences on three sides. Needless to say, I fell absolutely in love with him and the twists Zoraida Cordova added to his character. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. It also means readers can enjoy familiar areas while being introduced to new ones, and Córdova balances this really well. As a personal pet peeve, which I have decided to refer to as “convenient couples” there was a pairing that felt a little too “easy” for me, but it did make sense plot wise, so I shall mildly gripe about it here.Corrupt kings, desperate rebels, lost goddesses, magical weapons and dark injustices fill the pages of this fast-paced conclusion to the duology. If you’re up for a fantasy duology that will consume your thoughts, an arrogant prince, his mean childhood bestie, a chaotic gay ( Leo obvio!

Their backstory is revealed very slowly over the length of the novel in short flashbacks and memories, creating a deeper connection between the reader and the main characters.

Their goals: find the fabled Knife of Memory, kill the ruthless King Fernando, and bring peace to the nation.

Colonialism and displacement are big themes in this book, as we learn how the Moria people had their land taken from them and their history erased. I find it interesting to see which random reels go unexpectedly viral, you can just never guess which ones will get the most views.Yes, you could argue that there was character development, but really I think it was more relationship development than either Castian or Renata really growing as a person.

However, I also appreciated the friendships forged and I was especially pleased that Leo, who was one of my favorites in Incendiary was such a big part of this story!

Renata's heart may still beat for Dez, but as the danger of their quest increases, so does her attraction to Castian.