I loved, loved, LOVED the story and this new world Leigh Bardugo has crafted. I love Imperial Russia and the fact that there is a fantasy novel regarding this time period had me hooked from the start! I loved the Grisha and their powers and intricate political games they play, I loved how easy it was to read that book because it hooked from the start and finally, I loved that we don't have perfect characters. It's easy to think that the characters in this book are actually human, because they have flaws and the author didn't make the major characters likeable to everyone on purpose.

Talking about the characters, I don't know what to think about Alina. I love how devoted she is to Mal, more devoted than he seems to be to her, but I couldn't help but roll my eyes, when she fell for the Darkling manipulation. To be fair though, Alina didn't grow up among the Grisha, so that makes her a lot more gullible and inexperienced when it comes to the alluring world of the Little Palace.

For a hot minute, I though the Darkling would be this kind of villain turned hero, but as the story progressed I became more and more convinced that there is no way there's anything good about him, anything worth saving.

In conclusion, I have to say that I was draw to this book like a moth to a flame and I cannot possible wait to delve into the next one! Bardugo's writing was a pleasant surprise and I am eager to read everything she's ever written and everything she is going to write in the future!