- The Characters. Jayden is an amazing protagonist. She is likable but realistic, strong but imperfect. I rooted for her from the start and not once did I waver. Horeb is the perfect villain, and Kadesh will steal your heart. Jayden's sister Leila was such a mess, but it made so much sense that I couldn't help but feel for her (and you know, simultaneously want to smack her. It happens.). Jayden grows so much during this book, but it makes complete sense and feels right.
- The Family Dynamic. This was so family centric, which is refreshing and wonderful. Jayden did not do anything without thinking of her family, and tried her best to lead them through some very trying times. Some of her family is amazing, some of them are jerks, and I won't tell you who is who, but I am Team Grandma.
- The Feels. This book had tears streaming down my face within the first 20%. I don't know if that has ever happened to me before. Usually I have to connect to the characters, the setting, etc., before I can really feel invested. But this book had my emotions all over the place from the very start. The range of emotions that I felt during the course of reading this book was pretty impressive.
- The Historical World Building. I was thoroughly impressed with world building. It could not have been an easy task, since there isn't exactly an abundance of information on this time period. It never once felt fake, or surreal, or even unrelatable. Yes, these people lived in harsh times in an incredibly harsh climate, but their core values and desires remain similar to ours. I was incredibly immersed in this desert world, trying to imagine what it would be like to deal with the things Jayden and her tribe had to endure on a daily basis. These struggles flowed so well in the story, as it was just part of everyday life. I wasn't sure about the dancing at first, but it was so symbolic and meant so much to the people that I couldn't help but enjoy the focus on it.
- The Plot. I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen from the first page, and the desert adventure certainly kept me flipping the pages. There were some shocking moments, and some lovely moments. Overall, the plot moved at a great pace, with a lot of action, but enough calmer moments for me to stop and catch my breath. There's really quite a bit going on throughout the book: Love, loss, deception, politics, survival, war, and the list goes on. The ending was a cliffhanger, but since there will be more books, it is okay with me.
- The Writing. It was lovely, and to the point, and very well done. I am eager to read more of Kimberley's books for sure.
- The Romance. There is no insta love here. There is no love triangle here. There is just a lovely, respectful, slow burning romance that I absolutely adored.
Bottom Line: My only complaint? That I have to wait until 2016 for Banished. Um, guys, that is too long. I need more, please! This was just a beautiful book with amazing characters set in such a unique world. I highly recommend this book, as it has a little something for everyone.
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight