I'm wavering between 3.5 and 4 stars. This first in a new series reads like it could almost be a middle grade story, except for one romantic scene which I know my niece, at least, would wrinkle her nose at. It's still a great story, just rather more bright and optimistic than is usually offered to us jaded adults. It also lacks the snark Neill is generally known for, but then again, her Devil's Isle series wasn't snarky either.
Chloe Neill walks a fine line between imagining a world where women are common in historically male roles, and acknowledging the gender bias that exists in this one. I'm not convinced she pulled it off; I'd have rather she stick to one truth or the other, but it wasn't problematic and didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
Mostly, it's a new concept, and a new series, so I'd imagine there some growing pains and adjustments ahead, but it was a nice escape and I'm interested in seeing where future books take me and the characters.