A brilliant outlaw named Iriset, who wields forbidden body-altering magic, infiltrates a corrupt empire’s ruling family to save her condemned father, only to become entangled in political intrigue, rebellion, and complex, taboo relationships. Themes of power, gender, sexuality, and the tension between innovation and religious dogma drive this dense, intricately built queer fantasy, where the pursuit of personal and societal transformation threatens to upend the world.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a richly detailed empire shaped by the aftermath of a fallen moon and ruled by a religiously orthodox dynasty, the story follows Iriset, a prodigious outlaw and daughter of a crime lord. Iriset, known as Silk, uses forbidden body-altering magic called architecture to create disguises and enhancements, defying the empire’s strict religious laws that ban such practices. When her father is captured and sentenced to death, Iriset infiltrates the palace, becoming a handmaiden to the emperor’s sister, Amaranth, and entangling herself in the lives of the ruling family, including the emperor Lyric and his foreign bride-to-be. The narrative explores themes of rebellion, gender, sexuality, faith, and power, with a focus on Iriset’s internal conflicts and her relationships, all set against a backdrop of political intrigue, court machinations, and a complex, math-inspired magic system. The book is the first in a planned trilogy and features a high level of sexual content, philosophical and religious debates, and a cast of morally ambiguous characters.

Readers praised the book’s intricate worldbuilding, noting the depth of detail in the empire’s customs, gender pronouns, religious systems, and political structures. The magic system, based on architecture and mathematical principles, was highlighted as a standout element, with some readers enjoying the process of learning its rules alongside the protagonist. The diversity of characters, including explicit queer representation and the use of neopronouns, was frequently mentioned as a positive aspect. Many found the political intrigue, court dynamics, and morally gray characters compelling, and several reviewers appreciated the book’s willingness to tackle themes of gender, sexuality, and imperialism. The audiobook narration by Emily Lawrence received specific praise for bringing the characters to life and aiding comprehension of the dense material.

A significant portion of readers struggled with the book’s dense, often convoluted prose, which many described as over-descriptive, meandering, or difficult to follow. The pacing was frequently cited as slow, especially in the first half, with some readers finding it hard to engage until the midpoint or later. The magic system and worldbuilding, while detailed, were often seen as confusing or inadequately explained, leading to cognitive overload and difficulty understanding key plot points. Some readers found the characters underdeveloped or hard to connect with, and the frequent, explicit sexual content was divisive—some felt it interrupted the plot or lacked emotional depth. Several reviewers did not finish the book due to these issues, and others noted discomfort with certain relationship dynamics and consent-related plot points.

The book’s reception was mixed, with an average rating of 3.52 out of 5 from 147 ratings and 130 full reviews, and a notable number of DNFs. While some readers compared its complexity and structure to other ambitious fantasy works, others found the lack of a glossary or clearer exposition a barrier to entry. The story’s approach to gender, sexuality, and power dynamics was frequently discussed, both as a strength and a source of confusion or discomfort. The book is positioned as adult fantasy with strong queer and romantic elements, and content warnings include violence, sexual content, death, racism, and religious themes. The first installment sets up a trilogy, with some readers expressing interest in continuing the series despite reservations about pacing and clarity.