One-Sentence Summary:
After getting captured during an infiltration attempt, Cassa, Evander, Alys, and Newt are caught between a centuries-old executioner and his escape, and the most powerful man in the city wishing him dead.
My Review:
OH MY GOD I LOVED THIS BOOK.
First of all, ALYS!!!! I’m dedicating a special portion of this review to her because of how amazing she is. She’s Evander’s older sister and basically the only sensible one in the crew (Newt is too caught up in Evander’s smile). Alys is also ace and has anxiety, which I loved to see because of how it was portrayed. A lot of characters in books are seen as less because they don’t have a love interest, and I could name maybe four asexual characters at all, so seeing such a powerful female character with no love interest or interest in one? Beautiful and valid💕 Alys also had anxiety as I said before, and seeing her overcome struggles to become even more powerful and help the others too? Again, incredible. ALYS IS A QUEEN.
I have to compliment the worldbuilding in this book. There are essentially four magic abilities and a separate trade: sentient (seeing someone’s past), rook (taking and giving memories), diviner (seeing the near future in objects), and seer (long term prophecies). The additional ability is only for those who are bloodbonded, usually to a metal, and it means they can control that material. Even though most of these took me a little while to remember, they weren’t confusing at all, but they had so many applications!
I also loved that in this book the rebellion was over and it was primarily personal. Despite it being a staple in fantasy, I’ve never been a fan of the rebellion against a corrupt government. Cassa’s parents were the leaders of the rebellion, but by the time Beneath the Citadel begins, the rebellion is over and the rebels have been executed.
If I had to pick at one thing it this book, it would just be Evander and Newt’s similarity to Jesper and Wylan of Six of Crows. However, there are only so many roles on a heist crew, I just didn’t like that Evander was basically Jesper.
I would absolutely recommend this book to those who like heist books and LGBTQ+ representation in fantasy (ace rep!!!!!), but it must be known that this is more of a mission than a heist, and one that will certainly end in murder.
Anyways, I love this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
The Fiction Feature 