Wow. I stayed up VERY late reading this one, only putting it down when my eyes refused to stay open. After months of slugging my way through books, I finished this in less than 3 days. Excellent writing and a good plot. It feels like a blending of so many good stories, but still holds its own. Reminiscent of a bit of Hunger Games and Divergent with an added air of Tudor England as well as Roman gladiator days. I can't wait to read the next book in this trilogy. It can't come out fast enough.