One of the blurbs for this book compares it to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones. I don't think the comparison to Harry Potter works at all -- this is not a book of child-like wonder turned coming of age YA like the Potter series is. I feel like newspapers and book critics are like, "Oh there is magic in this book? And it's written well and topping the charts? Let's throw in a Rowling reference!"

The Hunger Games comparison fits, and from what I understand about the Game of Thrones series (I haven't read it) it probably fits as well as the book is very violent.

That said, this book is very well written. It's gripping and compelling, but it's also difficult to read. It is full of child abuse, torture, violence, and references to rape. Those who hated the Hunger Games because they didn't like reading about children killing children will not like this book either.

The good stuff:

The world building is superb. There are different countries, factions, races, and a militant empire oppressing all. Background tribes and peoples are given enough detail to make them feel real and not just cardboard scenery for a play. The Scholars, once a vibrant, learned empire of their own, are now slaves to the reigning Martial Empire.

The Martial Empire's Blackcliff military school is insane - the fact that one of our main characters not only survives it but retains his humanity is incredible (and believable only because of how he spent the first six years of his life). Based, somewhat on ancient Sparta, children are "chosen" at the age of six, taken from their families, and thrown in a 'culling pen' to see which are strong enough to survive the elements, the pen fights, and starvation. Survivors are inducted into the school as 'yearlings,' most of whom will die either from torture, execution for trying to desert, or simply because the training is too rigorous. 20 year old graduates of the academy are already hardened killers and rapists, ready to exact the Empire's rule.

The commandant of Blackcliff is one of the most fascinating villains I've read in a while. She's a horrific narcissistic sociopath who delights in killing and torturing children, yet she has plenty of characterization and backstory to ensure she doesn't feel like a mere plot device. You want her to die, but you also want to find out more about her.

The other supporting characters are also done very well - the other military students have their own hurts, their own pasts, and their own demons. The people you meet in the oppressed societies as well as the rebellion feel fully fleshed out as well. Elias's best friend Helene is amazing. While the love square is a little eye rolly over all (for me) you understand Helene's love, her furious feelings over such 'weakness' in complicating a friendship with a close ally, how badly she wants/needs Elias to trust the Augurs... ugh, I don't want to spoil stuff, but she's awesome and I want to buy her action figure.

The story is told from two view points: Elias, a Mask in training at Blackcliff; and Laia, a Scholar girl who has lost her entire family at the hands of the Martial Empire. The chapters are short, which helps with the overall pacing and makes the book very gripping. If you have a hard time with switching POVs, this format helps because you are moving so rapidly between the two until their story crosses paths.

The trials the chosen military students go through are very interesting and will remind readers of the Hunger Games, but are uniquely different and the whole set up (choosing a new Emperor) is great. The holy men are sufficiently creepy and intriguing and I'm as fascinated by them and where they came from (there is a hint that they were a mistake?!) and hope we find out more as the series progresses.

I'm not someone who likes violence but I have to say that I appreciated how the author raised the stakes. I was *more* afraid for Laia, *more* stressed out for Elia (and Helene who is supposed to be a supporting character but I love her) than I was, say for Katniss or Peta because the evilness feels so much greater. With higher stakes, the risks are greater, and the eventual good conquering evil is going to feel like a much larger payoff. Tahir was not afraid to have her heroines and heroes do awful things and she wasn't afraid to kill nice characters. The third trial was like a stake raising mic drop, and blew Hunger Games out of the water.

I really enjoyed Tahir's writing style. It's sparse, yet descriptive; emotive & evocative, yet not flowery. It really added to the overall fast pace of the book as well.

The supernatural characters were great, and I especially liked how Cook told the world's origin story from their point of view. I also liked how some could bestow particular powers and I'm intrigued by the villain's cooperation with a particular nasty one.

Nitpicks:

It's not a love triangle, it's more of a love square. This is a little tiresome at some points, though I understand it's a well known trope for YA literature, and the teen audiences eat it up as they ship their favorite couples.

Laia's growth from a scared little sister to a much more courageous fighter is nicely done, but her indecision over which boy she wants to kiss dampens this a bit. However, I do appreciate, I suppose, that as a 17 or 18 year old girl, she doesn't necessarily feel like she HAS to choose one mate forever and ever. It's normal to like two boys at the same time (and likewise, Elias likes two girls at the same time and struggles with which one he'd like to kiss), but to a somewhat curmudgeony 40 year old, it's a little wearisome.

Rape triggers. There is nothing graphic, and rape as an every day, accepted occurrence makes sense for Blackcliff and the realities of the military state. However, it's brought up a lot and referenced a lot, so I note it here for anyone who might have triggers pertaining to this issue.

Laia's character isn't as strong as Helene's. That along with the somewhat tiresome love squares makes me almost wish Helene was the star, not Laia. However! Laia really steps up to the plate at the end, and I'm impressed -- super impressed -- with what she accomplished with the help of her friends. Tahir wasn't afraid to take it to the point of no return either. I mean, the

Spoiler

axe is literally SWINGING and then BOOM

!

Some odd characterization errors occurred: like Keenan's (involved with the Scholar rebellion) surprise whenever Laia is whipped, bruised, or hurt. How are you surprised, man? The rebels placed her with the a sadistic killer. Keenan's surprise is meant to characterize him as caring, but it doesn't make sense, as he knew very well what Laia was getting herself into and even tried to stop her. Laia's character DOES experience growth though, and I do find her history and backstory compelling, so I'm interested to see where this story goes.

There were a couple of continuity errors - nothing major. I didn't highlight them so I can't be bothered to go back and find them.

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Overall, the story took my breath away and I can't wait for the sequel. I recommend this if you like fantasy, high stakes, cool world building, and can deal with the anger/fury/sadness Blackcliff will trigger.