First, I felt it necessary this author gave us an understanding of Mare, since she is the one we follow in this story. It helps to understand her world and her perspective. After she's introduced to the silver world, the story shifts and the drive for something better... to belong, and to have a conclusion that our main character chooses, is a shifted goal.

There is some form of a love story but it's not the main focus, but an important fact to the story.

Parts of this story drags and I would get bored with it but I think the story is great in itself. I'm thankful it's not a fairy tale and to kept true to the story and not a romance tale. Meaning the author keeps the same purpose through out the book. The reasons behind the goal may have changed but it's still the same goal we started with.