I loved this book but hated Kestrel. If you want to know what this book is about, there is really one quote that sums it up; 
 "She recalled her promise to Jess to make the Herrani pay. 
 But she did not want to think about that. 
 It occurred to her that she had never thanked Arin for bringing her piano here. " 
 Really? REALLY?! YOUR DAD COULD HAVE JUST DIED IN THE WAR ARIN STARTED AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE STUPID PIANO!!? Literally her for 4/5ths of the book -.- 
 This is basically what prevents me from loving this book completely and wholly. Kestrel is weak. I cringe at her foolishness and curse at her weakness. Kestrel annoys me because she will not accept the fact that Arin should be her enemy. Then in the last chapter or so, she suddenly grows a spine (that she should've had long before) in what feels like a character dump as she suddenly solves the whole damn world. 
 However I shall read the next book because despite the faults Kestrel's character holds, the plot-line was interesting enough and it was a sweet romance between two star-crossed lovers with Kestrel's character showing promise to improve :)