Harry Potter for grown ups? Not that I'm a big potter fan, but it's an easy comparison for a book about magical societies set in Yale. It's gritty, sometimes very real and hard hitting. I could definitely feel the faint hint of romance between Alex, Dawes and Darlington's characters, but it didn't overpower and turn into a romance as I find many fantasy novels do.
I felt myself really pulled in by Alex and her story, her history and her absolute determination to live a better life at Yale, to somehow try and fit in.
I really enjoyed the way Bardugo addresses real life college issues into this book, as well as the bigger societal issues of how unfair the game of life can really be to someone like Alex, someone special and talented, but not from money or power.

The ending was perfect and I can't wait to read on and hopefully see more of Darlington's character and story.