I'm not sure how to review this without posting spoilers! I agree with a previous reviewer who said this belongs on the shelf with The Hunger Games and the Divergent series. But dare I say I like The Blood King better? There are definitely parallels between the story and some current events, which is weird to say since this is dystopian. I also have to commend the author for clearly stepping out of her comfort zone on this one. While a few science-y things take place, it's not her usual sci-fi/fantasy genre, and she did it so well! I also like that I felt like I could relate to the main character even though I'm significantly older than she is. I like that there's a little bit of romance (and heart break!), but that the characters are strong enough to stand on their own and aren't codependent. Now I'm back to not being sure what to say without spoiling it, so I'll just say read it for yourself! It's so great! And the second (and final! this isn't a trilogy!!) book promises to be even better!