I have mixed feelings on this book. In the end, I am unimpressed but hopeful. 

This book was a slow start. By 50% of the way through, I was still wondering when it would start. Nothing had happened, we had no additional information, still just sitting in a tree wondering what is going on. 

And by 50% of the way through a book… I should be feeling more than that. By halfway through, I want to be enthralled. I want to have info, background, and know what is pushing the plot. I want to be unraveling a mystery or exploring new lands or something! Unfortunately, this book did not deliver that. 

By the time I got to the 60% ish mark, things started to pick up. 

Around 75% we had a story. A plot. Some information. Some intrigue. Some controversy. 

And then there were some quick reveals, a big moment, and an open ended ending to lead to a sequel… damn. 😕 

I wish the editor and writer had taken a cleaver to this book. I feel like it could have been severely trimmed down and nothing would have been lost. I think it would have gained a lot by having more momentum, more information, and more interest sooner in the book. 

With that said, I enjoyed the writing style and loved the main character. Odessa felt more real than most fantasy FMCs I’ve read. She’s confused, lost, working hard to learn to defend herself, and didn’t magically gain skills just because she married someone and became queen.  I am curious where it’s going, and appreciate the complexity and mystery that was found in the end of the book. For that reason, I will try reading the next one. 

I just wish this first book was given the care it deserved as a book, rather than being used as setup and dragged out to make it long enough to have a sequel.