3.5 stars. I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and Larson did a good job for a debut author. However, there were still faults with the book that can't be ignored. The beginning was pretty rough. We're introduced to Alexa and Marcel right after their parents are killed and she pretends to be a boy to join the army and avoid the "breeding" house. Oh that breeding house. The idea of it is appalling to say the least, where girls are thrown in to be constantly raped so that they may birth more sons to be trained for the army. It's not only appalling, but unnecessary. True, there had to be a way to make Alexa pretending to be a boy a logical move, but there were plenty of other ways to make that happen. It could have been something as simple as her not wanting to be separated from Marcel, her only living relative, and so she chose to join the army with him so they wouldn't be separated. Not only that she had the fighting skills for it already so that would have made it even more unconvincing. Yeah, the breeding house brings some angst, but that's as far as it goes. 
 As for Alexa herself, wow what a piece of work. In the beginning she couldn't seem to make up her mind on whether or not she was a boy or a girl what with the whole "Oh I'm the manliest of mans I never lose I will kick your butts" and then the "Oh Prince Damian you have a wonderful torso it's so lean and sculpted." Seriously, it was pretty annoying and wow that attitude after Marcel died. All everyone was doing was try to help her and she just snapped at them. Talk about ungrateful. However, I did come to find her less annoying when she figured out who she really was and I do appreciate that she's a strong female character who bests basically all of the men in the novel. 
 And now, the love triangle. For the first half of the book the triangle was beyond annoying because she couldn't figure out whether Damian or Rylan was more beautiful looking and when she finally picked Damian it gets even more cliche with Rylan professing his undying love even if she doesn't love him. However, the moments between her and Damian were kinda touching and it was sweet while it lasted for such an impossible love. I think her decision to end it with him was smart because he has a duty, and so does she. 
 The plot itself was interesting. The assassins and the bits of sorcery all of it was great. I would like some more detail on the sorcerers though. What are the different ranks, how did they come about, etc. Overall it was really well thought out with the rebellion and the attack. Alexa's abilities weren't just explained away with the sole reason being that she was the main character, but because she had an innate ability for sensing magic and that was a nice touch on Larson's part. However, I was hoping for better world-building. Yeah, I get that they are surrounded by a jungle but is that really it? What about the colors of the jungle, the animals, the hardships of it, the beautiful descriptions I'm expecting when you have the ability to write about a lush rainforest? All I really got was that they have access to tropical fruit and a lot of dangerous creatures lurking about. If Larson wants this to be an incredible epic fantasy she needs more world building. 
 The ending was as expected and was a good way to ease into the next book in the series. Overall, a pretty decent book for Larson but I sure hope their characters develop. I would like to see how Alexa's relationships change with Rylan and Damian, Damian's hardships as a new king, and where Antion will go from here.