The perfect blend of beauty, danger, intrigue, magic, and romance. I was immediately carried away into the vivid world that was woven (cough) by captivating descriptions, fierce characters, and clever dialogue. I borrowed this book from the library on a whim, and now I'm counting down the days until the sequel! The tension was built so well throughout, although all the characters seem "safe" compared to other, darker fantasy tales. This is serious and compelling but also light enough to get lost in without coming out of it too heavy. Perfect for summer reading, with a cool drink and a fan gently blowing. I am not quite sure how I feel about the "villains;" though from the point of the view of the main character, it does make sense that their motives may not be completely understood. The slow development of the main character, however, is fascinating and you root for her from the first page until the last!