Do yourself a favor, and be sure to read the author's note in this one! Sets up the whole book in such a marvelous way, and why this book is such a timely read.
The Things I Liked:
- •The characters were incredibly sympathetic. Even at the start, when they're making choices I'd rather they didn't (in some cases), I still fully understood why they were doing it. They had backstories that really made them relatable, and really helped as a reader to form a connection. And they grew so much during the course of the book!
- •The friendships and romance were great! Dani had mostly kept to herself in the beginning, which you'll understand in terms of where she's come from. But as the book progresses and she makes new friends and in some cases, more than friends, these relationships help shape the story in pretty monumental ways.
- •Bringing down the patriarchy is a plot I can always get on board with! Ugh, why is society so gross? Ours, theirs, it's all despicable, let's be real. The only difference between Daniela's world and ours is that they're more honest about the fact that they want women's only life purpose to be marrying some crappy dude. And wow, the aforementioned dude is truly a pile of human garbage. Dani being involved in taking it down? Perfection!
- •The stakes felt high, and the story was good. I enjoyed it, even the moments that were quieter. I loved the world-building, the marketplaces, and of course, wondering what is going to happen as Dani gets herself involved further and further into the rebellion.
The Things I Didn't:
- •It reminded me of several other books. I am not saying it was a duplicate of some other book, just a lot of themes from a lot of other books were used, in a way that didn't feel totally fresh? And because of that, maybe a wee bit predictable?
Bottom Line: Well, now I need to know what happens next! Dani is a strong character who has to make some incredibly difficult choices, and it's absolutely worth reading about them!