This started off with 5 stars for me, but after the big moment happened, it dropped quickly. I can understand the 1 star reviews, and after sharing my dislikes, my book group is putting it on the "Don't touch" list.
I love the setting as someone who knows both sides of schools and universities, the mundane things that make it clear the author is a teacher and the many ways she included that experience. Combined with the magical parts of the worldbuilding, I'd love to see more of this setting. I even liked the protagonist for the most part, until she ... made some questionable decisions.
The word "sapphic" should not exist in this blurb, because it left the room almost immediately, for around 400 pages, before showing up in the credits, and while it was gone, it got a male placeholder. I'm glad this guy ended up serving a purpose at all, because he felt a lot like unneeded drama. And I feel like there should have been an appearance somewhere at the end, because it feels so cut off. I know I'm not the only one who doesn't understand why the actual love interest even likes Saffy, but God, Laura deserves better.
