Crier's War: 1

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There was a moment—so brief that when she thought about it later she was not sure it had actually happened—in which Crier lowered her bow and Kinok did not. A single moment in which they stared at each other and Crier felt the faintest edge of nerves. Kinok was considered a war hero of sorts. He’d been Made long after the War of Kinds, but there had been numerous rebellions, large and small, in the five decades since the War itself. One of the biggest, a series of coups called the Southern Up-risings, had been quelled almost single-handedly by Kinok and his ingenuity.

Politically-Active Princess: Lady Crier has ambitions of joining the Red Hands, the ruling council, and has many ideas for political reforms in Zulla. She is crushed when Hesod keeps forcing her out of the room, metaphorically and once literally. Two weeks have passed since the last chapter. Junn comes to the visit, and Ayla sees her brother Storme… who died. She thought he had after shoving her into an outhouse then listened to Automae kill her family. She comments that she had seen his body. So what?!? But Ayla didn’t describe him as an Automae and comments he’s human. Seven years older, but looks identical to her brother. And the two numerous times halt and look at each other… what happened? This is the most curious I have been the entire book so far. Ayla had chosen the latter. And Rowan, keeping her promise, had found Ayla work as a servant of the palace. Nothing mattered until she got inside. And she’d vowed to do so to exact her revenge—even if it killed her. Crossing south,” Ayla repeated. Her heart sank. “And how many stars will be out in the southern skies?”He looked down at her, squinting in the dying sun. “Take it from someone who’s done this a hundred times. The day is over. All anyone’s willing to buy right now is heartstone.” Are you going to help me or not?” Ayla said now, prodding Benjy in the ribs. He yelped. “I’ve been yelling my head off for an hour; it’s your turn.” Rife with mystery, romantic tension, and political intrigue, Varela’s debut novel is perfect for readers craving queer fantasy with dense world building.” — Booklist

Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father's legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn't the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla. That’s horrible,” Crier breathed. “Why would the Midwife do such a thing? Was it madness?” She knew the condition plagued some humans. One character is a weapon of some kind and think they're flawed because they have feelings: not necessarily romantic feelings, just feelings in general. This was not her first Make,” Kinok continued, meeting Crier’s eyes. “She had been working with the nobles of Rabu for decades.”Benjy took Ayla’s hand and squeezed. She didn’t return it. She knew what the code meant: an uprising in the South. Another one. It filled her gut with suspicion and dread.

With that being said, I did find the book enjoyable and I generally liked it. That was just one thing I couldn’t help but notice, think about while reading the book. Maybe I just missed it but the context clues just weren’t there to explain those changes well enough. Or come way after the fact through a remark here or there. Not from the main characters themselves who are telling the story. In part, I think the only reason they stood out so much is I was writing this while reading, if I didn’t do that I’m not sure I would’ve cared as much. But writing it out just… it’s too obvious for me to overlook. Fantastic Slurs: Humans call the Automae "leeches" because all they do is consume the labor and work of their human slaves, without contributing at all.

‘Ready To Go’ - What is it?

A comet is crossing to the southern skies,” Rowan said with a smile. “A week from now. It will be a beautiful night.” Condescending Compassion: Lady Crier does earnestly mean well, but her perspective on humanity is so skewed and influenced by her position and education that she doesn't understand how poorly they are treated by her fellow Automa or how difficult their lives are.