**Review based on an ARC received for free from www.netgalley.com

Imagine late 19th century Europe, the dresses, the entangling alliances, the royalty, the DRAMA!!!! Then throw in some alternate history (America lost the Revolutionary War, Britain owns France) and add some poorly explained magic, and you have this novel.

The five POVs and the light page count leads to a complete lack of depth to any of the characters. The one character who seemed the most interesting, the Sorceress Aelwyn (who rips out the soul of a boy who tries to steal her bag in the first chapter AWESOME) is barely used and the magic she and her father, the Merlin, use is barely described or explained. Why even have it?

This book is also fairly violent and sexual. One character was repeatedly date-raped AND later you find out she was molested as a child/teen. Multiple characters engage in various sexual acts despite constant worries about their honor, and girls are described as feeling without control over their bodies. Boo. One Chapter where we find out the Uncle is molesting his neice is called Flower in the Attic. Really?

Hopefully the subsequent books in the series will add depth to this tale. I'm sure Melissa de la Cruz fans will love this, but not for me.