After the first two CDs, I was ready to quit, but I didn't have anything else to listen to, so I kept going. It does get better as it goes along, but it never really sank its teeth into me. Overall, I'd say it was decent, but not great, in all aspects, including the audio book narrator.

I never really understood what it meant to bring the magic of the Realms into the real world. I was truly surprised by a couple of twists, but I also didn't totally get how they worked. And Gemma's lust for Kartik made me uncomfortable (and I read lots of romance novels). It just felt kind of icky in the context of a teen fantasy because it was pretty graphic.

I don't think I'll continue reading this series. And I feel bad about that time I recommended this to a girl who was bummed about the really long wait for the [b:Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267255754s/2767052.jpg|2792775] at the library. I gave her this and Graceling, having read neither, but under the impression that they were both good. We'll see about Graceling next! ( )

I really really wanted to like this book. It was recommended on a thread of good YA and I do love good YA.

However, this is not good YA.

The writing was stilted (others have remarked on the anachronistic tone but that was maybe intentional so I'll just say I agree it felt out of place).

It was incredibly colonial and racist (and unlike the misogyny it never seemed to try to address the racism and colonialism of the time period).

It *did* try to address the misogyny but failed in my opinion (it seemed very un self aware about misogyny in its descriptions of Anne in particular, but there were other bits that made me pause).

The self harm angle could have been interesting if it had been handled at all well (according to the book people cut when they don't like their lives but when they have something joyful to do they stop immediately).

Non of the characters had, well, character. There was the protagonist, who, um, didn't like her mum but missed her terribly, I guess that was her thing? And then Felicity who was kinda smart, liked power, and had parents who didn't have time for her. And Pippa who was pretty and whose parents were poor and so wanted to marry her off (and couldn't find anyone rich who was even vaguely the same age as her...). And then Anne, the fat and ugly scholarship orphan. It maybe says a lot about the writing that I feel like I know more about these girls' parents and their motivations than I do the girls themselves.

I genuinely don't have anything good to say about the book except that I did end up staying late to finish it so by the end it clearly did make me want to finish. That's why it gets 2 stars rather than 1 (I've changed my mind about that a few times already though...). ( )

Gave up after a few chapters. I was hoping for a work of cozy faux-Victorian literature, but the voice and protagonist felt anachronistic and did not grab me. Probably a better fit for someone looking for a paranormal adventure.

I would actually recommend listening to the audio book of this title. The reader is the best I've ever heard. Plus, the story is haunting and beautiful. A great YA mystery. ( )

4/4.5 stars. I'm not usually one for YA fiction but Libba Bray is very good at writing it. Very interesting take on the power (and illusion) of beauty. Poignant juxtaposition of female puberty/coming of age alongside the development of literal magical ability. Yay for strong, smart female characters! All in all, quite good. Don't know why, in the world of YA chick lit, books like Twilight (gag) garner so much attention while ones like this don't. ( )