I really wanted to post my thoughts on the game somewhere, I hope this is an alright place for it! Just as a disclaimer, I am writing this review as someone whose experience with interactive fiction ultimately started with Choice Of games. I love Twine, but I hope that provides context for what I am used to when it comes to interactive fiction.

Starting off with some things that are of note. Not all of these are negatives; some I feel are both pros and cons.

1. Pronouns. It seems like the author didn't know how to adjust for pluralizing verbs so anytime the player's pronouns would have caused some grammar weirdness ("they were" vs "he was" for example) the game defaults to they/them regardless of what you chose. There is a simple macro by ChapelR to fix this! In some instances I also noticed it happening when "they" could have been replaced without any pluralizing. It's a small detail but a male or female MC being misgendered definitely bugs me. They/them are not just neutral pronouns that can be applied to anyone.
2. Choices. If you are used to Choice Of games which put heavy emphasis on branching paths, player agency, and consequences, then you may not enjoy this. Choices are largely for flavor text and the story is mostly linear. This isn't a bad thing if you enjoy more of the novel angle than the game angle. For me personally, I think some more player agency would have benefited the story. The story acknowledges that the MC often doesn't have a choice, and this railroading ends up being a narrative element, but acknowledgement does not necessarily make it more palatable. I feel that I can mindlessly click through choices rather than being truly immersed. I also think that choices here are being overlooked as a way to pace the story. The ending in particular would have benefited from some "false choices" to highten tension and make the player feel in control even if they may not be. Choices are instead mostly used as dialogue options, which is maybe a large part of the issue. Choice of action feels more meaningful than choice of reaction. In interactive fiction, choices do not always need to lead to branching, but they should at least allow the player some sense of agency. The Choice Of blog has some good posts on game design and the intentionality of choice that I think are relevant here.
3. Not a power fantasy. This ties into my point on choices. I really dislike power fantasies and self-insert interactive fiction, so playing a MC who is at first lost is refreshing. However, there is a thin line between a MC who deals with adversity and a MC without agency. Especially before the story's big twist, it can sometimes fall into otome territory where it feels like every other RO is getting a cool protagonist moment and the MC is just there to watch. This didn't bother me too much personally. Whether you'll like it or not comes down to personal taste.
4. Relationships between characters. I love a world that feels alive and characters that have histories, that don't just start existing around each other when the MC comes into the picture. However, I have seen some people say that the MC ends up feeling like an intruder into their relationships or a third wheel. I know that especially in the case of Milo this has been an issue. I honestly wonder if this game is just not intended for a monogamous audience. There is nothing wrong with that, but it can definitely feel strange to be given the option for a monogamous route and then be consistently reminded of your RO's connection with another RO (Gabriel and Belladonna). There is a scene at the beginning of the game where polyamory being the norm is discussed; I kind of wish there was a variable-set choice there of whether the MC is polyamorous or not, so that this content and tension between ROs be accordingly shown or hidden. I only say this because if you are going to market this game to monogamous players, you should expect that they will feel uncomfortable or jealous being reminded of their RO's exes and other connections.

Now for things I really enjoyed:

1. Worldbuilding. The setting is where this game really shines in my opinion. There is really a wonderous Spirited Away and dark Alice in Wonderland vibe. The inclusion of different districts with different cultures, the Velvet Guard, fae magic logic, and other small touches really make the world feel alive and full. The side characters in particular really stood out for me, as I felt a real sense of connection and found it believable that they had lives outside of the MC. This sense of richness actually meant that the stakes of the plot were meaningful as well, which I appreciated. I would have loved more chances as a player to explore the world and feel fully immersed in it.
2. Romance.  I know some people have issues with the red flag male ROs but personally I thought they were great. Gabriel apologizes for his actions and tries to change. It's made clear from the beginning that Milo never acts out of true malice. None of the romances are entirely wholesome but what do you expect out of a dark high fantasy game? All the sweet moments, as well as the angst, with the ROs were very well done. I haven't played Hazel or Belladonna's routes yet, but I really liked Gabriel and Milo. I won't be playing the Gabriel and Belladonna poly because I just don't find them very appealing together, but I liked the dynamic of everyone else.
3. Prose. While there are some typos and bugs, I think that is to be expected with what I assume is one person working on a game with around a million words. I do not expect perfection from indie developers. Ultimately the writing is pleasing, and there were definite moments where I was tense and wondering what would happen next. The story and the writing itself really kept me hooked, and combined with the worldbuilding and romance, it made for a really enjoyable experience. I can really feel that the author is passionate about the story and that there is a lot of love put into it.

I would recommend this game if you take into consideration everything above, and if you like stories set in magical, rich worlds. Ultimately I found this a lot of fun and will definitely be replaying for the ladies routes. The fact I have so many thoughts on it means it is not mediocre by any means. I just think there are things people should be aware of before buying. :)