This was a really good read. A really sad read, but a really good one. I'd give it 4.5 stars. There are two story lines, one in the past and one in present day. I knew that the characters were related, but my guess was not right. There were a couple twists that I didn't see coming so it took what could have been a predictable story and elevated it to a more memorable one.

I did not finish this. There's a lot of voodoo which I wasn't expecting and didn't care for. Also there seems to be a lot of sexual abuse. These are the reasons why I decided to stop reading this book. It just wasn't for me.

I picked this up because I knew that the eastern UP was one of the settings. I grew up there and love reading about it. Sometimes authors use the area as a setting but get all the details wrong like paying the toll on your way north across the bridge. I put a book down after reading that. Not so with this book. The sense of place and the portrayal of life there was spot on. I really enjoyed the story and the writing.

A couple of my favorite quotes:
"Ever wonder why the Mackinaw is spelled with a 'w' in Mackinaw City and every time you see Mackinac on the other side of the bridge, it's spelled with a 'c'?" "It's so the Buckeyes, Fudgies, and Trolls learn how to say it right before they cross the bridge."

And in response to a question about not being interested in going downstate, "You get down there, they don't even put the U.P. on the map. Nothing but the fuckin' mitt. They can keep all that--everything under the bridge. Fine with me if I never cross the Straits the rest of my life."

I really enjoyed this story and the characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! I think it's getting bad reviews because it's being marketed as a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, but that's a horrible description. It's nothing like The Hunger Games.

The setting is a little strange. It's a future world, but due to a disaster most technology has been lost so life is more like the middle ages again. It's a weird concept that isn't well explained so I just thought of it like a grown up fairy tale instead.

I think this will be a really great movie. I already heard Emma Watson signed on so I pictured her as I was reading. I think that's really great casting.