This book was full of whimsical charm and political intrigue. The world and the characterizations really reminded me of [b:Howl's Moving Castle|6294|Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407450489l/6294._SY75_.jpg|2001]. I love that it didn't follow the cookie-cutter model that is inflicted upon the majority of YA today. The plot is relatively slow as the majority of the focus is on the world of the Ark and the different powerful families that are in play. The vast majority of the characters are terrible people all using each other and their powers for their own selfish gains. In fact, the main character, Ophelia, is thrust into a marriage of convenience with Thorn, the bastard son of the conniving and dangerous Dragon family. If you like political intrigue and books about characters betraying and using each other for power and status this is definitely a book for you. I could not give this book 5 stars because parts of it were a bit confusing and the middle was quite slow. I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel to see where this story goes.