First off, let me say, yes, there is a similarity with SOME of the stuff that happens in this book with Half-Blood, but how things play out and why it happens is totally different. VA took on a more modern/human-related appeal to it, like the girls going the mall, technology, and stuff like that. Covenant strays away from humans in general and they have their own culture and way they do things. Honestly, there are so many more differences than there are similarities, it just makes me even more irritated at the people who rant over this issue. It's okay to mention the similarities, but it definitely didn't detract from the appeal of each separate book. 
 Don't sweat the similarities. Embrace the differences. 
 ANYWAYS, overall, I liked this. Rose is a snarky, strong character. I didn't like how careless she was with her reputation and relationships with guys though, but that's a minor detail. Lissa bugged me, but I did appreciate their friendship. These two girls would do anything for each other and I really hope that doesn't change. There wasn't as much action as I was hoping for, so I just felt a steady interest throughout the whole book. As for Dimitri, meh. It's alright. I liked him a little more towards the very end, but there wasn't enough REAL interactions b/t him and Rose for me to really feel anything for them as a couple. I heard it/he gets better though, so I'm looking forward to that. 
 There's a lot more I can say about this book, but just know that I thought it was good for a first book.