Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I went into it not expecting much, and it lived up to that for most of the first half. Then about halfway through, it started to pick up, and wow was I surprised. It started moving, and it started moving fast.

I really enjoyed it after that — I didn't want to put it down! However, the random flashbacks that often took two or three chapters could get annoying, and I felt that they would be much better if out at the beginning of the book. All in all, it's a really great book.

I do wish it would have been just as exciting in the beginning. The first several chapters were very slow and boring, I almost put it down.

As for characters: Kim was probably my favorite. She had real personality, despite it just seeming as though she was first presented to fulfill the "empty-headed best friend" trope. Airel herself (what is up with that name) was a decent character, though she made some poor decisions throughout the book, her choices made sense in the moment. The male characters were also pretty fleshed-out, for how little screen time they had.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and was shocked by the ending, though I wish the beginning could have gone faster!