Well, this was not as good as the start of her new trilogy... It was a pretty typical YA fantasy/dystopia: pretty girl (too pretty - like way overdone here - if she was that pretty, there's no way she'd have stayed an anonymous assassin) is the hero with a tough background and a chance to save the world that she doesn't really want, a love triangle, the couple bad guys, a competition with intrigue, and some magic. Plus, the catch all fix-it character, Nehemia, who does "magic" in a world where it is banned and is there with information and to save the main character's life when necessary. Also, the whole acceptance of slavery until a pretty young girl is scarred (by both the prince and Chaol) was too convenient and cliched. I liked some of the side characters, like Nox. The Elena thing was interesting, but a bit too surface. And I think whatever connection exists between Celeana and the ancient queen and the throne of Terrasen, etc. was alluded to a couple too many times - I got it. All in all, definitely not the best YA I've read and I would recommend the author's newer stuff. But it was the escape I was looking for this weekend and I was able to read it quickly, so it filled the role I meant it to nicely.