This story really had to grow on me. For the longest it was just horrid bullying done by fairies until some deviously decadent court politics. Surprisingly, the real world still plays a part here.

One of the absolute best parts is the father-daughter relationship between Madoc and Jude. I enjoyed Madoc a lot. He was like a snake; in which, snakes aren't inherently good or evil, but they are always going to do snake things like bite, hiss, or potentially poison you to death. And yet in a twisted way Madoc loved his family with all his heart.

Also, I liked Oriana. At first, she seems as if she's just fulfilling the evil stepmother role or at least a disinterested one, but no she was much more.

I was unmoved by the daughters. Vivi may have been the best. I can't decide whether Taryn is a spineless wimp or overly ambitious. Jude I felt nothing for neither in strong dislike or like.

But this is truly enemies to lovers. I'm ambivalent about if I want to read book two or not. I don't think I have ever seen fairies portrayed this darkly or gruesome before. Interesting.