I went into this book not expecting much. The synopsis didn't really grab me. It sounded like a hundred other YA fantasies and I just didn't have much hope that it was going to be enjoyable. And for the first quarter of the book, I was right. I was bored out of my mind. But the second half of the book definitely picks up, and by the end I was truly invested in these characters and what was going to happen to them.

I liked that there were so many women showing different kinds of strength. This book is all about strong women rising up against an oppressive patriarchy. I like the fact that we see women demonstrate strength in a multitude of ways. Some are physically strong, others mentally and emotionally. And whereas Nomi has always had a rebellious heart, Serina learns throughout the book to be strong and stand up for herself and the women around her. Her arc is definitely the more compelling of the two sisters, in my opinion.

There were definitely tropes throughout this book that reminded me of other YA books, but with the addition of Serina's storyline the book was able to add a unique element that I appreciated. If this story had just been about Nomi being thrust into palace politics while competing for the attentions and affections of the heir to the crown in a fish-out-of-water story I would've been bored out of my mind. I mean really. How many times have I read that book (*cough*, The Selection, Red Queen, The Diabolic, etc. *cough*)

On that same note, there is a reveal that happens at the very end of the book that was pretty obvious as the groundwork was being laid. I think I realized where the book was going to go about a third of the way through. It is almost identical to the reveal in another well-known YA series, and I wish the author had figured out a different way to get the characters from Point A to Point B.

Also, I feel like the messaging was a little heavy-handed. There was very little subtlety and nuance to this book as far as its feminist views go. And I liked that this book is about ladies rising up and demanding equality. All women should demand equality. But it just felt a little ham-fisted in the narrative.

That being said, it's an interesting premise. Women have been oppressed for generations. Knowing how to read and write is forbidden, as are other vocations that have been deemed 'dangerous' for women to know. Those who are caught breaking the oppressive laws can be sent to penal colonies where corrupt guards force the women to fight for their food, pitting groups of women against one another. I thought the concept had a lot of potential.

As I said, I enjoyed Serina's storyline far more than Nomi's. I could see some people comparing it to the Hunger Games, but it really has no more than just a passing similarity to that series.

One more thing: I'm sure this is being marketed as a YA fantasy, because any book that doesn't take place in a place/time we know of is called a 'fantasy', especially when it has a vaguely European setting. This book is not a fantasy. There is no magical element whatsoever in this book. Just wanted to put that out into the universe.

All in all, even though I have a lot of critiques, I enjoyed my reading experience. I am curious to see what happens to these characters in the next book.