The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

This is the second book by this author that I've been really intrigued by the premise (also [b:Hell Followed With Us 57911600 Hell Followed With Us Andrew Joseph White https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630498579l/57911600.SY75.jpg 90726926]) but the execution has been...well really not for me. And part of that I think is that White is really writing for a trans audience and I hope that readers who feel represented by these books will read them and get what they need from them. But also in both cases it feels like the worldbuilding is really...cursory? Like here I just really wanted to know more about this magical apprenticeship/arranged marriage situation because in some cases it seemed like there were very clear rules about it but then also kind of like, it just existed to set up the scenario? Which I guess is kind of always the point of fiction. IDK IDK I just didn't care for this. Again other readers may find what they need here, especially ones looking for trans romance and also maybe a kind of historical Handmaid's Tale kind of vibe...idk there are definitely vibes here that will appeal to some readers. Just like, not me!!