(A five-star review by Reece) This was a great read that kept building the whole way and really sucked me in emotionally.;It's told from Beetlebrow's POV and she's 16, small, observant, tough, spontaneous - a good hero of few words. Pook's 15, taller, and more of a people person, so they make a good complementary pair. At the start, Pook's a beggar and Beetlebrow's about to become one, but they escape their would-be oppressors and break into their impoverished city's inner sanctum, which is under siege. No one's been able to do that, so their talents are recognised and they're tasked with delivering a cryptic message to royals elsewhere who can help save their starving city.;It's set in a dystopia (a dark fantasy world without magic), so they visit several cities which are experiencing conflicts between themselves, and amongst the privileged and exploited people in them. Descriptions are vivid and visceral throughout the book. Side characters are carefully fleshed out with bittersweet backgrounds, so their motivations aren't transparent, which adds to the complexity of the world.;The LGBTQ+ representation is great! The lesbian romance is visible right away from the girls' connection and commitment at first sight. Bee accepts her kindling first-time desire quite soon so their romance progresses at a good pace (with fade to black love scenes). There's also intimated gay side characters who are well developed. Sexism and other prejudices inherent to the world's workings are shown but not condoned and bad guys get their comeuppance.;Beetlebrow's 'coppery skin', Pook's naturally 'deep purple lips' and 'black curly hair', and the fact they pass for sisters, make it fair to assume both are POC, as are other side characters (including royalty). More representation. A+.;I got engrossed towards the end and didn't want it to end so soon, but it did so in an excellent way I didn't expect, and also set up tension for the next in the series which I plan to get. It's the sort of read you'll like if you like Shira Glassman's works... but I can't think of a comparable dark, dystopic f/f YA so this fills a gap.;
