On the plus side, I have to say that the book did pull me in, and I finished it easily. I like the characters, although we only get to really know a couple of them. There is potential for more growth there. Also, the ideas of genetic mutations and pagan mythology were interesting, and there is a lot that the author can do with that. 
 That's also the biggest drawback to this novel - there are lots of threads, lots of good ideas, but not enough of them came together. I understand wanting to have material for other books in the series, but things need to come together to a satisfying point in every book for it to be a great read. Things seemed to end too easily for my tastes, and some scenes could have been fleshed out to either weave some of the threads together or just add more dramatic tension.