This is such a fun world to explore. As always, Meyer's writing is mesmerizing and her storytelling prowess is just magnificent. I was sucked in right away and I am total trash for her novels. The characters are interesting, grabbing some from fairy tale and some more modern and imaginative traits that made them both nostalgic and entertaining. This is not to say that her plot is in ANY way lacking. I mean, it's great to have an author who can spin a good yarn, great to have someone who can build interesting and full-fledged characters...but to have both paired together so well in a single book is just perfection. The pace in this series is good and fast and there is always something happening. I was not for a moment left in a lull, but nearly always on the edge of my seat and always rooting for the protagonists.

Speaking of the awesome, strong female characters that Meyer writes, I really appreciated the dual POV approach and how Cinder's story was able to weave around this one in a way that felt so natural. Yes, this series is sci-fi and futuristic, but it is also somehow super believable. The characters react in ways that make sense, the plot goes places that don't seem outlandish, but are at the same time nowhere near boring. This series is so much fun and I cannot wait to see where things continue to go.