I was really excited about this one i gave me so much more than I excited! It got me invested instantly. Dee was hilarious and ridiculous but had so much heart, I couldn’t help but love him. This is a fantasy murder mystery - locked room style - and I devoured every second of it! The fantasy world was delivered expertly in a way that made it easy to understand without any info dumps. Which was quite impressive considering how many people we’re introduced to at the beginning and we learn about each of the homes. Also the concept was very cool - twelve provinces under one empire each named after an animal namesake from the fable they believe in with each dux having a ‘blessing’ of power from the goddess. It felt well developed and complex and made the mystery really interesting because of all the dynamics between provinces and their leaders.

The mystery itself kept me guessing and I loved slowly uncovering everyone’s secrets. Dee’s relationship with grasshopper and Crow was amazing as was his personal growth and seeing how far he’d come in himself by the end. Also the romance aspect was a delight though I was so surprised how it ended!

I also really appreciated all the LGBTQ+, chronic illness and fat positivity representation, it felt very natural and well portrayed. Overall the whole cast was compelling, it was a little unhinged and chaotic and hilarious - enjoyment levels were high. And the world building and mystery were both done really well - an excellent read. Also it’s a standalone so low commitment! I will absolutely be reading whatever the author does next, this was such an entertaining read for me.