♡ My Review

This first volume pulled me in because the premise is instantly dramatic. Dinah has lived through fourteen painful lifetimes filled with betrayal and torment, and by the time this story begins, she does not want another chance. She wants everything to end. Instead, when she seeks out the feared Archduke Tersia hoping he will kill her, he does the complete opposite. He adopts her and gives her a new name, Esther.

That contrast is what makes the story so addictive. Esther begins the volume carrying so much pain, distrust, and exhaustion, but she is suddenly placed in a family that does not treat her like a tool. The Archduke is intimidating on the outside, but his actions toward Esther quickly show a softer side. He becomes this protective, awkward, unexpectedly doting father figure, and those moments were some of my favorites.

I also loved how the story balances revenge with healing. Esther has every reason to hate Lavienne, and the volume makes it very easy to understand why she wants revenge. At the same time, the story does not only focus on anger. It slowly gives Esther moments where she can breathe, eat, sleep safely, wear pretty clothes, and exist as a child who is finally being cared for.

The family dynamic is what made this volume shine for me. The twins wanting a little sister, the clothing montage, the breakfast scenes, Jude slowly opening up, Dennis questioning Esther, and the cute family waking-up moment all made the story feel warmer than I expected. It still has darker emotional weight, but those gentle scenes help balance it out.

The art is absolutely beautiful. The colors, character designs, and soft fantasy details make this feel very polished in print. Since this edition also includes extras like journal sheets, creator notes, character spotlights, behind-the-scenes content, and print-only short stories, it feels like a collectible version rather than just a simple print release.

My only small critique is that the first volume moves through a lot of setup quickly, so some moments could have had more space to breathe. Still, as a first volume, it does exactly what it needs to do. It introduces Esther’s pain, gives her a new family, sets up the revenge, and makes me want to keep reading immediately.

★ What I Loved

• Esther is easy to root for. After fourteen lifetimes of pain, watching her finally receive care and protection feels so satisfying.
• The Archduke is surprisingly soft. He has the feared reputation, but his fatherly moments with Esther are adorable.
• The found-family setup works so well. The twins, Jude, Dennis, and the household moments make the story feel warm even with the darker premise.
• The revenge hook is strong. Lavienne is so easy to dislike, which makes Esther’s desire for revenge feel completely understandable.
• The print edition feels special. The full-color art, bonus extras, journal sheets, creator notes, and print-only short stories make this feel collectible.