So I think I've discovered that a lot of my opinion of a book depends on the main character. I listened to the audio book of this from my library. The main character is supposed to be this rare, talented Dark Magic Asha, but she came off as a whiny, weak, "unsure of herself" person, and that bugged me! I understand that characters will go through "growth" and that is important in establishing a character, but she would cry, and her voice would quiver and that bothered me. I guess I wanted her to just be stronger throughout. I also understand that this was the first book and she was just discovering who she was and what skills she has, so I'm sure the next book will have her as a stronger person. I did get a little confused when the book went back and forth through the past and present... if that's what the time jumps were. Once I understood that the male voice was reading the "present", I followed along easily. I'm not sure if I'll bother with the next book in the series (trilogy?).