This will be obviously popular with YA readers. This said, I wasn't compelled to finish. I really enjoyed the chapters from Elias' point of view but found Scholar Laia's chapters a bit of a horrific drag. Why there is a huge need for the two main characters to be love interests is getting exhausting for me, especially when there was such a huge power disparity between them. The relationship struggle between Elias and his best friend Helene made sense, but seriously, who is thinking about how sexy it is for someone's body to be pressed up against you when you are battling for your life?

We'll see if I re-pick this up after the series is complete. Instead of this, try the Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.