Couldn’t get into it. Interesting set up, but it took too long to settle on a plot line. Would have liked to see the main character grappling more with the notion of killing her sister or trying to actively survive instead of just trying to escape her situation and thinking about how awful it is. It is awful, but that is understood from the set-up. We don’t need convincing of the awfulness of her situation, but rather of how she is going to get out of it. I unfortunately wasn’t convinced and gave up early. Wish the plot would have moved faster because the world, characters, and idea are all super interesting.

If you’re looking for a more sedate, thoughtful piece, I’d recommend checking this book out. If you, like me, were attracted by the idea of a desperate fight for survival, The Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir creates that feeling to a greater degree.