I went into this book having high expectations and it certainly met them. In her true fashion, Ruta Sepetys did an excellent job of detailing a dark era in Spanish history under the ruling of a harsh dictatorship. I really enjoyed the character depictions and storyline. Prior to reading this book, I was not even aware that any of this was part of Spain's history. This book was definitely eye-opening, educational, and entertaining all at once. For fans of historical fiction, this is a must-read. I have been talking with others who have read this book and many others agree with my statements. I think that many people would be shocked to learn of such a brutal dictatorship that once was in Spain. This was a bit of a lengthy book, but I had no problems reading it in a timely manner. It will certainly keep you turning the pages while educating yourself.