Ok, first of all, killer opening. It hooked me right from the start, and even though the beginning of the book is not very eventful I feel like it was really important in understanding the characters through their past. Lira and Elian are just so cute and there’s never a dull moment in their relationship whether they want to kill each other or surprise themselves with how much they actually care for each other. When I heard this was a retelling I just though it would be like any other fairy tale but I was pleasantly surprised by how detailed and new the story was. The character development is top tier and it was truly heartwarming to see how Lira and Elian gradually warmed up to each other even as their secrets threatened to tear them apart, and how the whole crew of the Saad evolves from being utterly indifferent and suspicious to risking their lives for their newest member. And most of all, I just love to see amazingly strong female characters that make me feel so empowered!