It felt like nothing happened between the two main characters and I have no idea why they are in love. the MMC was absent for like half of the book and also was an ass. The FMC both seemed to have nothing to do and forgave the MMC for a pretty nasty attitude. She had more on page time with her friend than the MMC and honestly if he had been the MMC it would have made more sense. It really suffered from telling not showing, the FMC kept going on about how she would use all the political wiles and lessons from her mother but then really never did and was sort of handed allies without working for them. Overall it really did not have the payoff I wanted it to.