I don't even know where to begin; I loved this book so much! It's fast-paced and brutal and, even with the wonderful fantasy elements, it's so real! It's both an action-packed YA fantasy novel and a coming-of-age story at the same time. It's absolutely fantastic!

Nathan, the main character, is the child of a White Witch ("good") and a Black Witch ("evil"), making him a Half Code. Because of his Black Witch's blood, he is treated like an abomination his entire life. He is hated by almost everyone, taken away from his family and tortured for years. Nathan is labelled as something that he is not, but is forced to become because of his circumstances. He has no other choice than to fight for his life, not trust anyone, and often has to resort to violence. But all Nathan wants in his life is to be with the girl he loves, and to be loved by (or at least to meet) his father.

One thing that I noticed and really liked in Half Bad is the equality shown in it. I noticed that there are just as many female leaders as male, and they're just as strong. A few different types of relationships and sexualities were present throughout the novel, and I love that no one even batted an eye. I think this is the first YA novel I've read where gay relationships and marriages were a norm, and it's awesome! I love it!

I like all of the characters too. Nathan and Gabriel are my favourites, although I really like Celia and Arran as well. The author shows character development really well, and not just with the main character, but with secondary characters too.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book anD I NEED THE NEXT ONE RIGHT NOW LIKE HOW CAN YOU JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AHHHHHH !!