I didn't know anything really about this book before reading it. Didn't even know the synopsis. My sister gifted it to me and I couldn't be more thankful. The first 50 or so pages, I wasn't sure I could get into it. The magic system within and the overall cliche of certain aspects, had me thinking this was a book I want going to like. I was wrong. Very quickly after the story starts taking off, I feel in love with this book. The main character, Wren, is amazing. Overconfident, sarcastic, cocky. But not so much so that it's obvious that this will be a huge growth or point of the plot that she's "changed". Leo, another main-ish character, also great. Again, pretty overconfident and snarky, but behind it, a completely different guy. Probably my favorite character in the book, even with his limited page time. Julian's alright. My least favorite of the trio, but I'm not a huge fan of the overly serious, by the book characters. As I'm sure my description of the other two shows. 

However, getting into the actual story. Insane. There are some pretty obvious instances that you expect to happen, and "twists" you see coming. But the end of the book, I didn't see a lot of it at all. They were able to fit so much story into, honestly, one of the smallest books I've read in a while. It's pretty remarkable. I finished this book in 3 days, roughly, and the main reason is because I just couldn't put it down. Every single time the story was coming to a natural end of an "arc", an unforeseen twist happens and it's, "well, guess I'm reading some more", to figure it out. And the amount of political treason and backstabbing. Chef's kiss. 

I'm incredibly shocked I liked this book as much as I did. And luckily, the second one arrives tomorrow, so the story goes on!