I wonder if this is one of those books that is ruined by their ending. I mean, there was great build up, suspense, and mystery. I was truly wondering where it was all going to end up. Unfortunately it wasn't anywhere special. In the end, Scarlet truly sacrificed nothing to get what she wanted. Everything just ended in her favor because she's stock heroine number 55 or something. There's no loss, therefore the stakes, in retrospect, seem worthless.

Other problems include a lack of characterization. I always wondered why the father was so horrible and never really received an answer. He's just cruel because the story needs him to be. We already have a mustache twirling villain in Legend, did we truly need another?

I think I can forgive the lack of word-building seeing at it takes place in a setting that is separated form the actual world. Perhaps there will be more in the sequel.

I didn't really hate the book. I was just expecting too much and was disappointed. The ending was too clean, even with it being open ended. I may read the sequel only to see where it goes.