disclaimer: i completely agree that dark magic is haram. i agree that the occult is haram. but my interpretation of this book wasn’t that of magic because none of the characters use magic. this read to me like a group of characters with superpowers and i read it as such. i sensitivity read for the hijabi muslim character in this book. i know kelly to be very sensitive and careful towards writing non-harmful rep in her books which is why i cherish her as a close friend.

An unconventional and deep story on love, loneliness, overcoming handicaps to excell in life, love and finding a purpose with deep meaning. A bit creepy and atmospheric (for young adults mostly, though). The writing is repetitive, heavy on metaphors and atmosphere and light on answers. Fans of books like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Starless Sea will likely get on with it. Those who found these books pretentious are unlikely to find any enjoyment here. It can be a little grating in places – Andrew overdoes the use of glass to describe Lane as delicate – but mostly works well, adding to the gothic nature of the story. This isn’t a book with an intricate magic system or carefully crafted fantasy world – it requires the reader to go with the flow, accepting the supernatural elements for what they are and not questioning the whys. He couldn’t help it. He went where she led, like a paper kite on a string. He was hopelessly caught, twisted in her branches. His line tangled. His spine splintered. His sail all in tatters. There was no clean way to work himself free.” This must be the most boring book I've ever read in my life. NOTHING IS HAPPENING. Every scene is just the MC and her bland ass, rude ass love interest chatting about nothing. And why is this grown ass man obsessed with this girl he met when she was A CHILD?! I do not stan. In fact, I hate. I'm a hater. He means you,” Hayes put in. He was still sporting his trademark easy grin, though there was something steeled off in his gaze. A warning. A reminder. There’d been one singular expectation set in place at the start of this year: Don’t make friends with the Meyers-Petrov girl. He knew it. Hayes knew it.He was an idiot. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He’d known she’d be here today. Lane. His Lane. In his school. In his personal space. In his immediate orbit. He’d been briefed of her imminent arrival well in advance. Warned, really. Next to Lane, some of the tension went out of Hayes’s shoulders. The sight of his relief rankled Colton beyond measure. He wasn’t a child. He didn’t need a keeper.

The second day of testing, the aspirants had been called one by one into a little wan room by a little wan man, made to sit in a polypropylene chair with the legs gone loose. There, the darkness had pressed cool and close. It fell across her lap in shallow pools of blue. It coiled against her like a happy cat.Ok here's a list some of my fave quotes (doesn't even cover half of them but this is already getting so long):