What a rollercoaster! This is Book 1 of the Wicked Hearts at War series, my first by this author. And while it is billed as a dark high school bully romance, it is so much more. Pearl and Seth are at the top of the food chain in an elite boarding/prep school, each with their own minions following closely behind them. Pearl has a reputation for pulling boys in and then stomping on their hearts. Seth has a reputation for his taste in older women. Both are being used by their families in an intense game of corporate espionage. Now, let me tell you about these characters... Seth is the quintessential broody rich kid with a chip on his shoulder. And while he is shrewd, we see his vulnerability begin to shin through as the story progresses. Pearl was harder for me to like. In the beginning, there is a very pretentious rich bitch air about her, but eventually her walls come down as well and you get to see the girl inside. There is a lot of angst and tension built-up between the main characters and it kept my interest right up until the very end. Beware - this does end in a cliffhanger. But there is so much promise for how this story will play out in the future that you'll be waiting on pins and needles for the next installment.