I really…. really…. really wanted to like this book.

End result, I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it was my fault, not really in the mood for something of this genre, or maybe it wasn’t the type to catch my attention. I just don’t have much of a comment. You ask and I’ll probably just shrug my shoulders. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it, which is why it ended up being 3 stars on Goodreads. Here’s the kicker though, I’m going to read the next book.

*Shock*

*Gasp*

Right!?!?!?

A few comments that I do have. I want to start by prefacing that this is my first Holly Black book. For years I’ve been out of the YA genre. Not on purpose I will add, just sort of fell out of it. But now I’ve jumped right back in feet first. Listening to other souls that I trust, and hearing their feelings on this title, I’m not sure if this was a good choice for my first Black book or jaunt into the Faerie Realm.

This story is dark. I love it. We’re not talking Disney’s version of Tinker Bell with pixie dust and dreams. We’re talking dark, sinister, trickster types from old folktales. And believe me, when you read this book you need to keep that in mind. These characters are not human, their actions are not nice, and they will make you question everything about humanity. But remember, they are not human. The sinisterness and story have been compared to Game of Thrones and I can agree that it deems a few comparisons. I won’t be making them here. You know the rules.

NO SPOILERS.

Two items that annoyed me to death though, are the character dynamics and the writing. Seriously take note here, DO NOT make your readers read ‘I am’ instead of ‘I’m’. My reading flow kept breaking. Sometimes I wanted to throw the book out the window. Thank goodness this was a reading club book and I was forced to finish it up. Next time, I’m warning everyone, I won’t be able to suffer through it.

And here I go on another rant about characters. They make a story though. Tell me one of your favorites that doesn’t include a beloved character? I can wait….

I don’t hate Jude, I just wanted to shake her a few times and tell her to get her life together. I mean, she had so many opportunities to get out of her situation and she chose not to. I know that’s part of the story, but the reasoning behind it just wasn’t believable. Instead her character turned into more of a masochist.

Conclusion, the prologue and the epilogue where superb and awe defining, the center just a bit of moldy cheese; you pick off the bad parts and enjoy the good parts. There were a few. I wasn’t bored the entire time. But with how strong that opening was, the wind was seriously let out of my sails when I started chapter 1. But ugh….. Black pulled a turn around with that epilogue. Now I have to know what happens. I really hope that you like this story if you are a Holly Black fan. I might give another one of her stories a try before I give up.