Tera-Rayna’s life is one of privilege amongst the most powerful and influential people of her city, but despite her hometown’s reputation for openness and freedom, is she really free? Daughter to the all-powerful Librarian, and enclosed by ivory towers, she begins to yearn for more. The discovery of a unique artefact in the library leads her on a journey into the heart of a political struggle, where nothing is as it seems and the lines between friends and enemies become blurred. As war erupts around her, can this inexperienced girl throw off the shackles of her sheltered existence and make a difference in the world?

The author takes on a considerable task with this story, building an island world full of political tensions while tying in themes such as rising populism, personality cults, and the influence of social media. Almost every character is accompanied by a floating gem (known as a “spark”) which represents half of their being, and when I began reading this idea felt quite similar to the demon animals in His Dark Materials. However, there are some differences from Pullman’s take on the accompanying spirit – in this story, the contribution of the spark is not always entirely positive. They can be essential for information and communication, but they can also make mistakes and at times feel like a version of Siri that can’t be switched off.

Tera-Rayna’s journey takes some interesting turns and the way she grows into her role over the course of the novel makes for an enjoyable read. I’d recommend to anyone with a fondness for both fantasy worlds and politics, because this book brings the two together very successfully.