A review by novaturient_bibliophile
The Alcazar by Amy Ewing

4.25

The main reason why I liked this book as much as I did was the world-building; it was beautifully descriptive, in-depth, and creative. The book was also just the right amount of action-packed—enough to keep me engaged but not so much that it felt bogged down with tension. 
However, many other aspects were lacking. I felt little connection to or investment in any of the characters and the relationships (in fact, many of them seemed rather flat). The book also ended very abruptly; an epilogue to tie up the loose ends would have been beneficial for sure. 
This book both surprised and disappointed me. I was shocked at how motivated I was to keep reading (this had sat on my shelf for 2+ years before I finally picked it up), while simultaneously wishing that the aspects listed above (characters, relationships, etc.) were better. 
This reminded me of the movie Knives Out (the whole Byrne family drama) as well as The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco.