Think this had the potential to be so great and unique, and it was almost there in its concept, but it did just fall flat for me at times and I won't be continuing with the series.

I liked the premise for this book, and I enjoyed it when I started reading it, I found after a while the plot seem to slow down and I found myself losing interest, I just felt like nothing happened for half of the book. I did manage to read it till the end to see if it picked up a little but it didn’t. This book was filled with political intrigue and romance.

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK & Rebecca Ross for my copy of the ARC. Due to this kind gesture, I have decided to leave a review.

This book is not what I expected, it's intriguing and also the heroine comes out on top more in a family way than a title.

Where do young, established, wealthy girls go to master their passions? Places like Magnalia House of course. Where the finest will master one passion, to become the best and find a contract suited to them at the end of their training. Magnalia wasn't made to harbour illegitimate girls.. but what happens when a scenario arises that one can't say no to?

I actually really enjoyed this book, I even read it in one sitting. The characters are strong, the story is fast-paced, and you find yourself taking alike to everyone.

Brieanne really intrigued me, brought to the Magnalia House at a young age by her grandfather but never really knowing the reason why always kept you guessing. You kept thinking you were going to work out what was happening but the book was taking twists and turns which actually kept my attention. I loved how she has used her time in most of the passions to tailor into the women that we see her become.

I love a little rebellion story, I liked how no one lost their spirit even in the time it took them to regroup and get the word out. I always wonder what I would do in these sort of situations, probably stab someone who stabs me.. I will not lie lol.

Cartier is sweet, he is charming, professional and he melts your heart. At the ending, it sort of broke me at his situation, imagine him there, pondering, searching. Aw Cart you bless you.

So we know what happens with one brother, but where did the other one go?! Has this rather large snake retreated to lick his wounds and come back at us?! I need to know!

I loved Rebecca's style of writing. I didn't cringe nor did I get bored with it. I find this a huge plus because even sometimes when I am enjoying a book I can sometimes find myself cringing so hard I need to skim read a little but I didn't find it here!

I will carry on with the story even though I feel like it could have been wrapped up in one book - hopefully, I enjoy it as much as the first! 3 and a half stars.

“I cannot tell you what to decide, what is best," he stated. "That is for your heart to choose, Brienna. But I will say this: no matter which path you choose, I will follow you, even unto darkness.”

I was initially interested in reading this book, however my tastes have shifted and I do not think I will be able to get to it now. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a digital copy!

Unfortunately although I liked the premise for this, I found the content a little lacking in substance.

The Queen’s Rising follows Brienna as she begins her apprenticeship at the esteemed Magnalia House, learning the essential passions of art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge in the hope that on day she’ll be chosen by a wealthy patron. Embroiled in family secrets, and fighting a growing romance with her tutor, Brienna must follow a destiny started by her ancestors to overthrow a tyrant king and restore the rightful heir.

My main issue with the book was the incredibly slow pacing. Nothing happens for at least half of the book other than some frivolous gossiping and dressing up in gowns at boarding school, and then when things do start to move forward it’s very predictable. If you’ve read any kind of YA fantasy novel before, you can see where the story is going very early on and unfortunately there wasn’t any part of the plot that surprised me or really captured my attention.

I also found the writing overly descriptive at times. It was all flowery with no substance and made a slow plot even harder to wade through. I’m fine with descriptive text if it adds to the overall feel of a book, but this hindered the story rather than enhance it.

The characters are all rather one dimensional, and again rather obvious. Brienna is the stereotypical heroine, without anything to really make her stand out from the countless heroines who’ve gone before her. If anything, I found her rather dull and a bit of a sap, and had no emotional connection to her at all. The developing romance is lacking in chemistry, and again very predictable. I think I audibly groaned a few times while reading this because I could guess what was going to happen between Brianna and Cartier before it did, and I hoped I would be proved wrong. I never was.

The potential was there, but unfortunately this suffers from a lack of originality in a heavily saturated YA market.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

After seeing a few not so great reviews popping up for this title I did have some misgivings about it when I stated it, however, it exceeded my every expectation and I was surprised at how much I wound up loving this book.

It’s a very slow burn fantasy, not a lot of action but a lot of political manoeuvring and some epic world building. Also beautifully written, almost lyrical in a way. The plot initially wasn’t anything I haven’t seen before. Basic outline - girl born out of wedlock, no one knows what to do with her, she’s smuggled into a special teaching house, discovers she has secret magic, gets involved with difficult tutor. In a world that’s usually run by queens a usurper king has stolen the throne, there’s a lost female heir who is the rightful queen and there is a plot to overthrow the evil tyrant king and bring the rightful queen back to the throne. Girl finds herself a key part in this plot.

Admittedly, I had some eye rolls at the start of this book thinking I was fairly certain of where this book was going. While the writing was gorgeous, the plot was painfully slow. I liked most of the characters and the impending romance was kind of obvious as to where it was going as well. Quite pleased to see this wasn’t anything like I thought it was going to be.

The heroine Brienna is raised by her grandfather. Girls are taken to special schools to learn to be “Masters of Passion” – art, music, dramatics, wit or knowledge. Each pupil is assigned a talent and are given years and years of training to become a master. Starting at 10, Brienna is considerably behind the other girls, and the house is full. But she comes in and can’t find a passion to suit her. She fails miserably. Brienna was okay, if a bit wooden.

Finally she comes to decide knowledge the one thing she’s actually good at, she’s got to be better than everyone if she’s to become a master by graduation time. One thing I really loved about this book was the positive female friendships. The other girls who are students are not rivals, they are close friends and almost like sisters. While there’s a little bit of ill contention with one or two with Brienna stepping on a few toes, there’s no outright dislike or rivalry.

Brienna discovers a hidden talent of magic where she can see into the past. It happens randomly, no one knows why or where. Brienna’s planned path doesn’t really happen and she finds herself embroiled in a mysterious family with a plan to rebel against the tyrannical king. There’s a lot of journeying and the plot takes a turn from the somewhat mystical side of things to political undertakings.

There’s very little action until almost right at the end. And actually very little romance. There are quite a few secrets and plot twists revealed that kicked raised the stakes as far as the plot was concerned. There was a good feeling of family coming together and even if it’s not your biological family – it’s the people around you who become part of you and your own chosen family.

My only misgivings were the characters were a little flat, I can’t say I was particularly mad about anyone. Other than Brienna I can barely remember anyone’s name. I do remember how much I enjoyed the novel. For a fantasy it wrapped up really well too. Though there are apparently two more books to come. It will be interesting to see where this one is going. I loved this so much I bought a finished paperback.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Children’s Books for approving my request to view the title.

I really liked this at first, and then it started to grate a little. I think it’s probably just because I’m used to more action, and the simperingness was not really up my street, but also I thought the writing was a little choppy. Some parts were really beautiful, and others felt like they were trying a bit too hard. Overall, however, I thought it was good, but I thought the romance was unnecessary.

Rebecca Ross, the author of The Queen's Rising walked me through a magical journey. I got lost in the beautiful writing, so much so that it actually felt like I was there, living this story alongside the main character Brienna.

Might this be my favourite book I've read so far this year? Why yes, yes I think it might. I wasn't anticipating greatness, and that's kind of funny because I never seem to be when I come across rare gems like this one. Brienna is a protagonist that I warmed to almost immediately. I'm not sure what it is, but there are stories that just do it for me, and this is one of them. Alongside the likes of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, the author of The Queen's Rising created something special here and I will treasure it. It's empowering, beautiful and the pacing was perfect.

“I cannot tell you what to decide, what is best," he stated. "That is for your heart to choose, Brienna. But I will say this: no matter which path you choose, I will follow you, even unto darkness.”

Brienna, a young girl born out of wedlock is cast off by her noble family and sent to Magnolia House. A very competitive boarding house where students study the passions; art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge. And so Brienna is sent on a path to discover which passion is the one for her and train hard to perfect her skill in hopes to one day graduate and be chosen by a wealthy patron. Close to her graduation her tutor; Cartier, begins to think Brienna is hiding something and can't seem to work out what. But Brienna chooses not to reveal to anyone that she is in fact experiencing flashbacks of memory from her ancestors past. Memories that may mean something both dangerous and wondrous and affect things on a much grander scale than she could ever have imagined.

“...Vengeance doesn't taste quite how you imagine it will... It leaves a mark.”

I'm not sure whether there is going to be a sequel but I am praying for it because I need more from my babies. I adored almost all the characters even those you're not supposed to like. I think it's because the development was done excellently. There was so much progression that by the end of reading this book it felt like I'd finished a series that I'd been following for years. I got that attached to the story. Each character felt so real, because there was so much substance behind them. This book is full of political intrigue and twists and turns that'll have you jumping up and down in your seat.

“There are many secret doors around us, in plain sight. We just don't take the time to find and open them.”

The book starts off with a flashback, which usually irks me with fantasy novels because I feel like we need to get to know the characters first before getting a back story since it's kind of hard to take in information if you don't know whom your reading about. But the prologue was written so unbelievably well that I actually really enjoyed it.

There are wonderful sister relationships between Brienna and the other girls studying their passions at Magnolia House, and I adored seeing the supportive and loving side of those relationships, it was honestly a breath of fresh air. I even loved the romantic relationship in here, at first I was somewhat sceptical since it seemed a little awkward as I first imagined that there was a significant age gap between the two characters, and I do think the author should of made it more clear at the beginning that they are much closer in age. However the more the book progressed the more I enjoyed seeing the relationship grow and develop.

“But perhaps that made me want it even more, to prove that passion was not just inherently gifted as some people believed, but that passion could be earned by anyone, a commoner or noble, even if they did not have intrinsic skill.”

Even though a lot of the book is very character driven, the plot was also so so well done. So I would recommend it to you whether you prefer character or plot driven stories as this was wonderful all around. I really hope if you decide to pick up this wonderful book that you'll enjoy it as much as I did. I can't wait to read more from Rebecca Ross in the future!

RATING: 5 Stars

*Thank you so much to Harper Collins UK for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed my time while reading The Queen's Rising. It was a light and entertaining read.
Our fantasy world is divided into two: Valenia and Maevana. The main character Brienna is half Valenian, half Maevan. She grew up with her grandfather in Valenia after her mother died, and knows nothing of her father. When she comes to the age of 17, her life takes an unexpected turn, which pushes her to set on to an adventure leading the way to her other home.
What I loved about this book:
1. The fantasy world and the set up was less complicated than it usually is in fantasy books. So, I appreciated the simple, yet enchanting world. Somehow, the writing made me enter into that world, and it was just joyful to go through the adventures.
2. I really liked the main character Brienna. She was not over the top, really natural.
3. I liked that the book ended like a stand alone, which was refreshing. There was a proper closure, and for once I don’t feel like frustrated to know the rest.
The COVER is just beautiful. I just had to say it 🙂
There are some interesting twists and surprises in the book. I enjoyed them as well. Overall, it's just a joyful book that could be read by children, YA or adults. I would recommend to a wide age range.
Thanks a lot to the publishes and NetGalley for granting a free copy of this book.

THE QUEEN’S RISING has me a bit conflicted, because it’s one of those books that does some stuff really well but then also does some stuff really…not. I’ll admit I was drawn to this one by the gorgeous cover, and the fact that I’m always a sucker for YA fantasy – I didn’t really know what it was about before I picked it up.

Brienna, our heroine, is a young woman who has never known her father, and has lived under her grandfather’s care, until she is taken to a special place in Valenia where she will learn to master one of the five “passions” – art, music, knowledge, wit, or dramatics. Soon she is drawn into part of a plot to overthrow the ruler of the rival kingdom of Maevana and replace him with the rightful queen.

It’s a gorgeously written book, with extensive worldbuilding and a large cast of characters – Ross has obviously thought carefully about the Houses of her world, as well as the politics. I also enjoyed that the main character wasn’t the typical chosen one in that she isn’t the titular Queen of the novel, and she’s not the one everybody is waiting for to return to the throne.

My first major gripe with this book was that I found it to be quite slow. The first half drags a lot, with way too much time devoted to Brienna’s studies and all the stuff about the passions. It’s interesting, and there’s lots of detailed, intriguing worldbuilding, but there’s also a lot of exposition dumping and a lot of talking without much action. I was constantly waiting for someone to do something – the book is called THE QUEEN’S RISING and yet the titular Queen wasn’t doing anything, and doesn’t actually show up until about halfway through the book. The book then changes tack about 60% in and suddenly speeds up after having dragged, meaning that the climax feels very rushed. I also felt that the development of Brienna’s relationship with her Passion/foster father Jourdain was very hurried – it was a sweet relationship to see, and I wish more time had been spent on it, but it felt quickly glossed over.

I also found the romance thread in the book to be kind of skeezy, honestly. It’s not REALLY a spoiler but maybe skip this paragraph if you want to go in blind – Brienna has a blossoming romance with Cartier, who is her Master in the passion of Knowledge. Why is it skeezy, do you ask? Well, Cartier is about 26 while Brienna is 17 going on 18 – quite a significant age gap, which honestly wouldn’t bother me SO much but there’s the fact that he’s known her since she was 10 (and he was 18/19). That just made me a bit uncomfortable. It would be a sweet romance otherwise – there’s a lot of romantic tension and he seems to care for her genuinely, but I kept getting distracted by the knowledge that he was in a position of power over her and also had met her when she was a child.

Also, just to note: there is a huge spoiler on the first few pages, with the family trees – why make such a big deal of the secret of Brienna’s heritage when it’s at the BEGINNING OF THE BOOK? It’s not a surprise (it wouldn’t really have been much of one anyway, it’s quite a predictable twist) but the decision to put her family tree there is baffling to me. Why not put it at the back of the book, if you have to include it at all?

But anyway, here’s something I liked. Despite there being a lot about blood and heritage in this book, I really loved that one of the most important parts about it was that Brienna has a genuine bond with Jourdain, the man who adopts her as her Passion father. When it comes down to it, she prizes this relationship over blood – she also becomes very close with her adopted brother Luc, who also treats her as family.

This book is a decent read if you don’t mind a lot of talking and a slow pace. It’s nothing groundbreaking but I found it enjoyable enough, when I ignored the facts behind the romance (ugh, can’t get over that age gap). The writing is gorgeous and there’s plenty of complicated family history and politics to get sucked into, so if that’s your thing then you should be sorted.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I was expecting slightly trashy cliched romantic teen fantasy fiction and whilst some might argue that it was all these things, I'd say it was a good example of them.

I liked the main character and found her empathetic and appreciated the female friendships portrayed, and whilst I didn't find the first half that slow the second half definitely picked the pace up. The romance didn't take over too much and it was great to read a self contained teen novel with no cliff-hangers. The only thing I was a bit perplexed by was the family trees listed at the beginning of my advanced copy as they gave away a massive spoiler about the identity of the main character's father. I possibly would have guessed this anyway (as I did many of the plot developments) and I don't think it affected by overall enjoyment of it.

This ticked all my comfort read boxes and I wouldn't hesitate to read another novel by Rebecca Ross.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

This book really surprised me with just how good it was. This probably doesn’t sound like much of a compliment but I’ve been pretty down on YA and YA fantasy in particular recently so for any book in this genre to impress me is a real achievement.

It didn’t particularly help that this book doesn’t seem to get the best reviews. There are some who love it but there are more than a few who fall on the “it’s too slow” or “it’s not original enough” side of the fence. Needless to say I was a little wary going in (I really need to stop reading reviews before picking up a book). But, while this book did take a little bit to get going there was something about it that I really loved. Yes, it does have some issues (that’s why I couldn’t give it 5 stars) but I found myself being drawn completely into the story and the world that the author created.

I will admit it is absolutely full of the usual YA fantasy tropes, mystery about main character’s background (she doesn’t know who her father is), discovery of unexpected abilities and important role (special snowflake alert), evil dictator style ruler, secret identities and forbidden romance but with likeable characters and an intriguing world I was happy to go along for the ride.

I thought Brienna made for a wonderful main character. She’s clever, inquisitive, brave and more importantly conflicted a lot of the time. She’s often feeling a number of emotions at once and I loved how the author portrayed this confusion, which is just so relatable. She has no special skills or abilities, no real passion for anything (other than finding out more about her background) so is often feeling a little lost, particularly as she’s surrounded in school by the incredibly talented who know exactly what their path is.

This ability of the author to make you relate so strongly to the main character and the way she portrayed emotions was definitely one of the highlights for me. I felt all of the feels and I loved the relationships between the characters. The romance may have been a little bit wrong (I won’t go into the why) but I shipped it so much. Similarly the friendships between the women in the book in particular were so well developed and real. I loved how they supported each other.

Some of the other relationships worked a little less well and I do feel the author should have maybe taken a little more time over them. They developed a little too quickly for me to fully buy into them but this was due to what was my main issue with this story, the pacing. There is just a tad too much time spend on some sections and nowhere near enough on others. I can understand why some reviewers describe it as slow, the beginning in particular feels slow as the author takes a while to gradually build the world and the relationships between certain characters. I personally enjoyed these sections (I was very happy watching one relationship develop) but I can understand it frustrating others. Where I found issue was with the instant relationships. One very brief conversation seemed to be enough to form a lasting bond and intense loyalty which I’m not buying.

There isn’t a huge amount of action in this story, for the most part it’s plotting and scheming, unraveling mysteries and travelling across the world but it does have its moments. What violence there is tends to be sudden but I should add a warning that it’s a little gruesome in places and even I found it to be shocking. I did however love the contrast the author created between the two kingdoms Valenia and Maevana, one seeming very cultured and refined and the other brutal and savage and I think this occasional violence illustrated it well.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read and while I think it could have worked as a standalone I will be very interested to see how the story develops over the next two books.

“But perhaps that made me want it even more, to prove that passion was not just inherently gifted as some people believed, but that passion could be earned by anyone, a commoner or noble, even if they did not have intrinsic skill.”

Fans of Erika Johansen’s The Tearling Trilogy will enjoy this book immensely.

In this new world gifted children go to boarding schools to learn a Passion, either Art, Dramatics, Knowledge, Music or Wit. They study for 7 to 10 years where they then become Impassioned and start their life with a Patron, almost like an apprenticeship. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true when the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a Patron. While she is figuring out what to do next a strange book comes to her from her teacher Master Cartier. Which starts a chain of events that will change Brienna’s life and the fate of a kingdom forever, will she truly find out who she was always meant to be?
This story is beautifully written. A wonderful new world to explore, with two very different lands. Valenia full of grace and politeness. Maevena with warriors and a tyrant King. A rich history is woven in these pages that has had me wanting more. It gave me goosebumps while reading and has wonderful quotes such as
“She walks with grace upon the clouds, and the stars know her by name.”
Brienna is a refreshing character in this day of YA fantasy novels, she isn’t a born warrior and proves you do not need to battle to win a war, your brain is just as important. The friendships in this book are wonderful, Brienna is taken to school where only five pupils are chosen and she is the sixth, but the other girls take her in as a sister and their friendship is akin to family. Throughout this story there is a strong feel of family, not a traditional family but a family that is made of many friends and forged in common goals.
There is a romance but it took a back seat, this story was all about Brienna and who she would become, which I liked because some books have romance and it takes over from the story, nobody's got time to kiss when they are in danger!
While this is a standalone as far as I can tell, I felt that this book could of had more of an intricate plot line, everything seemed to fall into place to easily. A few more plot twist would've made it more intriguing.
Overall I loved this book it had everything I wanted a new world, a brave warrior woman and a romance. It kept me thinking about this world even after finishing it. To me that is the sign of a good book!

Queen's Rising had a lot of potential but it was let down by the pacing. The beginning was very slow and at times it was hard to keep reading. However, the plot did have enough to keep me going until the end. If you can get over the pacing issues then Queen's Rising is a YA fantasy full of political intrigue and romance.

“If you offend a Valenian, you lose your reputation,” Sibylee chirped, picking dirt from beneath her nails. “But if you offend a Maevan … then you lose your head.”



I’ve been craving a great YA fantasy novel for a while. I love these books but I hadn’t found the right one. The Queen’s Rising was what I’ve been waiting for! It has adventure, secret plans to overthrow an evil king and a message that women are and should be valued.

The Queen’s Rising//Kindle

Brienna never knew who her father was only that he was dangerous and she needed to hide from him. Her grandfather decides the best place to hide her is in Magnalia House, where she can learn a passion. So, there are five passions you can cultivate from an innate talent, Brienna was pretty bad at all of them — until she finally finds the one. She struggled to find her identity for a while and these vulnerable moments make her character relatable. She had an inner strength and graciousness that made her very likeable.
When Brienna is finally ready to graduate, she’s served a crushing blow. That’s when the story changes and the action goes way up. Her life changes and she’s set upon a new life plan that completely shakes her foundation. She fights for herself and for what’s just. There’s an interesting aspect to her quest that’s tied to old memories that differentiates this story.



And there’s a romance! It doesn’t overtake the story and instead is weaved through out as a smaller plot point that is lovely and just right. A supporting character, he’s always there to support her no matter what.



If you’re a fan of Grave Mercy, Fire and YA fantasy this is one not to miss.

Ah! I got this as a galley from Netgalley to read about a week ago and started it this morning. I finished it mere hours later. This novel was an absolute THRILLING read. I love hidden pasts and I love bad-ass heroines even more.



This novel was all of it. Magic, hidden heritage, stolen love, ALL THE SECRETS. Throw in a little angstyness and I was sold. First to last.

I love a story with a heroine that not only hold her own, but doesn't need someone to save her. She is a woman who stands tall and fights for what she believes.

Also, we need to talk about this world in general. I need MORE OF IT. So much world building took place that I made friends! I want to know more about all of them and I want to be there for the next chapter.

So many spoilers that I am trying not to scream about, but if you love a story that is not only fantasy, but also truly breathtaking it its strength and characters, than you will love this.

First of all, my one huge, ridiculous problem with this book: THE FAMILY TREE! Seriously, if you’re going to have a book with a main character who doesn’t know who her father is, maybe don’t print a family tree at the START OF THE BOOK which not only reveals this, but the secret identities of a bunch of other characters. Big reveal: not so much. Hopefully this will be moved to the end of the book by the time of publication, because it really did detract from my enjoyment.

Set in an alternative history of the 1500s, The Queen’s Rising tells the story of Brienna, a young woman with a mysterious past (less mysterious if you’ve read the family tree. Did I mention not to read the family tree?) who studies at the most intense sounding boarding school ever. It’s a slow burner, but I found it completely captivating. The world they live in has a magical past but magic has lain dormant for a few hundred years (more on that later) when the last true queen was usurped. Since then, nasty old men have taken the throne instead. Despite the slow start, the book really gets going and I’m already looking forward to the next instalment.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

I hate giving one star to any book, especially those that didn't particularly piss me off or anything like that, but I just didn't enjoy The Queen's Rising one little bit. I think I almost died of boredom.

It feels derivative of many other YA fantasy books but that alone isn't the problem - a lot of YA fantasy authors retell the same old recycled premise and some even manage to make it exciting; breathe new life into it with colourful characters or beautiful writing. Unfortunately, though, The Queen's Rising has no compelling hook. There was no moment where I felt pulled into the story, needing to know the answers and the fate of the characters.

The slow start gives way to an even slower middle that builds to an easy-to-predict climax. Where is the suspense? The questions? The heart-pounding thrills? There are none.

The Queen's Rising opens with Brienna being allowed to become an arden - an apprentice of sorts - at the esteemed Magnalia House, despite showing no real inclination towards any of the five passion fields: art, dramatics, music, knowledge and wit. It is clear that she is only accepted because her grandfather revealed some super secret information about her family and heritage.

It is especially strange how the story acts as if there is a whole mystery around Brienna’s family history, and yet there’s a convenient family tree at the front of the book, which spoils several reveals before the story has even begun. The shocking revelation of who Brienna is should shock literally no one.

Brienna spends six years at Magnalia House, during which time she gossips with the other girls, talks about plays and portraits and dresses, and how to impress the masters so they get to "passion" at the end of their studies. And she pretends there isn't a blossoming romance between her and Master Cartier, though one predictably - and unnecessarily - develops. It is a tough few chapters to suffer through.

After Master Cartier gives Brienna an old book on Maevan history, she begins to have visions from the year the magical Stone of Eventide disappeared. She soon, of course, finds herself caught up in a plot to recover the stone, steal back the throne from King Lannon, and return it to the rightful queen.

I found the entire book mind-numbingly slow. It was one of those situations where I kept turning the page, sure that just around the corner was the moment it would grab me and drag me in... but it never happened. There were so many tedious cycles of studying and chatting and searching and visions and travelling and ballgowns. I wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't received an ARC for review.