I can’t begin to express how excellent this story is. It has everything. Monsters. Swords. And enough action to drop your jaw ten times over. 

Picture a future where supernatural monsters roam the world. The human race is split into two classes: magic-wielding humans known as Enchanters and those without magical powers known as Norms. In this world, the Norms are looked down upon as second class citizens. But one of them, the feisty Aurelia Sun, is having none of that. 

Aurelia is out to prove that Norms can kill monsters just as effectively as Enchanters can, and you can bet that she puts her heart and soul into every monster-basing moment of it. 

I won’t say more; except to say that it is a ride worth taking and then some. I can’t wait to see where it’s all going from here. 

What an excellent introduction to a complex mythology; I really enjoyed learning about the different beasts our hero, Aurelia Sun had to face in her adventures. A gutsy, quick thinking young woman, who is easy to empathise with, she is a character in the vein of Alanna of Trebond. In fact, I feel like readers of Tamora Pierce will be very on board with Mary Fan's writing in general. 
Believable combat, and fast paced action scenes kept me glued to my kindle as we raced to the final show down. Can't wait to see what happens next! 

WOW! I was absolutely hooked from the start of this novella, enchanted from the first sentence on. I loved the writing style, simple, fluid, very engaging, a little funny, and mysterious enough to just keep me reading on and on. I had no idea what it'd be about, but I understood quickly because Fan described it all. It wasn't too explanatory, too descriptive, too bothersome. It didn't drive the reader away from the actual story unveiling because Fan provided just enough information to make you understand the rules of the world but to keep you in the 'now'.

There was immediate action as well, and I was super excited for it because it was apparent from the start there will be fighting and kick-assing. I didn't have high expectations and that's why this novella totally blew me away.

I loved Aurelia, she was a fun but focused and dedicated teenager, sure of what she wants, determined she will get it, and how. She had a point to prove and she did it. Plus she made me chuckle a few times out loud and I love when books make me do that. She was pretty flawed as a character, headstrong and stubborn, not really thinking ten seconds ahead, and very cocky, but I really liked her a lot despite that. She just was so very likable.

I was reminded a little of Harry Potter here and there, with people division, the Dark Lord, with magic and beasts, but that made the novella more homey. I instantly felt comfortable reading it so the pages just flew by. It was easy to read, fun to read, interesting to read, and I really had a fun time finishing it.

It was this mix of dystopia, of oppression and bleakness, but it was also a little fantastical. It had magic and beasts, and also a bad government oppressing the majority. It sounds like something that would clash, but I could easily imagine it all, and was drawn to it very much because fantasy and dystopia are absolutely my favorite genres. It was set in broken down Manhattan, which puts it in the future I guess, but I wasn't too sure about the world. I was a little confused it was seemingly in our world, but I figured we'd get to know more about it in the actual first novel anyhow. I did not wonder about it too much because so many other things were going down.

I am super excited for the actual first book in the series because this novella set a great stepping stone for an amazing story to kick off. It was really tense and action-packed, and so many possible threats and hints were woven into it I just couldn't read fast enough. I had to know what happens and now I really must get my hands on the first book asap!