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4.5 stars

First, if you are interested in reading this book, I'd say go in blind. If you need a little more convincing then I'd tell you this is a masterful work that explores themes like colonialism, gender inequality, racism, classism, and abuse of power in a fantasy setting of a theocratic society. Faith and religion then play a key role in the nation of Tiran.

I'll say little of the plot. This book follows Sciona Freynan. A magic prodigy, an astute mind, and an ambitious woman. In Tiran's patriarchal world where the holy scriptures deem women inferior to men, emotionally, intelectually and biologically, Sciona has been against the odds her whole life. However, this is her time. Every ten years the High Mages of Tiran allow a woman to take their test. No woman has ever been accepted to their ranks, but Sciona is a prodigy. For twenty years she has worked for this, and under Archmage Bringham's recommendation and tutelage she is ready to show her expertise.

[spoilers ahead]
This book was not what I expected. The first chapter is brutal. It's the decimation of a tribe, it's the introduction of a supernatural blight.
Then, we go to Tiran and it becomes the story of a woman fighting against prejudice, sexism, and every little disrespect she gets for trying to earn a place where women are not allowed to. It's dark academia and the magic system is so intriguing. We see Sciona study, investigate, practice and then there's a twist I would have expected way later in the story. Suddenly the book is not about surface-level sexism and racism, but about genocide, colonialism, and the justification under religious core beliefs. Tiranish believe themselves to be God's chosen people, so anything that benefits Tiran's safety, advancement and welfare is justified no matter the cost of life, abuse and destruction they take. And why would anyone care about the heretic, impure and inhuman people of the Kwen? This is the point where the story becomes something else because under M.L. Wang's hands, this story is heartbreakingly real. The parallels of an ethno-nationalist society that governs by the most brutally racist doctrines... It's such a heavy book. And Wang's portrayal of a society blinded and brainwashed and ultimately complicit, of a system rotten to the core, of a woman who becomes an ally when the circumstances are just right, it feels all too realistic.
I liked that Sciona was not a perfect hero. She had been comfortable her whole life looking away from injustices and the effort of others, being complicit in the abuse of Tiran. Even when faced with it, she still defended their racist and religious doctrines. It was a process, that still ended with Sciona admitting that ego and ambition were her main motivators.
I like that the Kwen were not perfect victims. Sciona did not anticipate their reaction coming because she still did not see them as people. Nowadays, empathy is rarely given to victims that fight back, that rage and hurt. And the Kwen, after finding out magic was the reason for years of genocide and abuse, of course they would fight back and retaliate, yet the common people of Tiran, the ones who had been abused too, showed no compassion, empathy nor understanding. It's so realistic. It's so depressing.

With a different writer, Sciona's actions and uncovering of the truth would have been the key scene for Tiran to change, for the people to show empathy, for the book to have been quickly resolved in a hopeful manner. But Wang's realistic approach hurt my heart because it shows the hopelessness of it all.
Thomil's life and inner thoughts destroyed me the most. How he would say time and time again his life was never going to be a happy one. His life was for survival, to endure. To maybe help Carra, so she could then help others, so future generations could be luckier than them. It was a reflection that time and time again broke my heart.
Yet, at the end of it all, Sciona's sacrifice, her actions bringing the system down, the light she turned on, she brought hope. A slimmer of hope for the distant future generations that things can be done differently. Thomil's words at the end reminded me how pointed every character, scene and the plot of this book was. How amazingly crafted. How talented of a writer M.L. Wang is.

Time was precious, but Thomil took a moment of it to look back at the barrier. Wrapped in the icy arms of his homeland, he imagined that his sister, his parents, and all the Caldonnae watched from that light that had taken their lives. The twinkle of magic became the spring gleam in Sciona’s eyes. To hope. Sciona lifted her glass, and Thomil raised a fist in return. To hope, Highmage Freynan.