This book starts off kind of slow, but it's also nice because right from the start you're thrown into the midst of things and have to figure out what the heck is going on. Like I said, it's a little slow, but as all the plot pieces begin falling together you're left with a big mess of intrigue and scandal, with a ton of different plot points that all meet perfectly. The entire book is kind of like a back story, almost, of the characters and how they've gotten to their current situation; I feel like the next one is where the stakes are really raised, and I can't wait to read it (especially since this one ends on such an ominous note!)