Okay, it's time to review this sucker. I enjoyed what this book was trying to be. I really did. There were ideas that could have worked. "Could have" is a key phrase. 
 This book, right down to the author bio on the back cover flap, is trying way too hard. Waaaayyyyy too hard. You can physically feel the author trying to be cool and edgy, it assaults your eyes like pepper-spray. 
 This book is like a really bad Anime that lasted one season and you hate it yet you watch ten episodes in a row because you're at home sick and too lazy to grab a DVD from across the room. 
 The lead female is a Mary Sue that constantly whines about how weak she is. This is the first half of the book. She whines a lot. She tries to whine one boy into teaching her sword fighting. He refuses. She whines at another boy. He agrees. She is magically amazing at sword fighting, though nothing about her character would hint to her skill. She just does like a hundred push ups and she's able to hold her own in a duel against her teacher. I'm gonna call bullshit on that one. 
 Also, I need to bitch about this, the fake swearing. Oh my god. "Fak this!" "Holy fak!" was this supposed to be an accent? No other words were accented. Did the author find this clever? Was this her way of sticking it to censors of something? It was so jarring and unnecessary, hell, I love a well-placed cuss, but the word was overused and completely pointless. Every time it was said I'd just start screaming "F**K! JUST SAY F**K!" 
 Our lead girl is a whiny brat who wants to learn to fight, not to be a part of the war and saving lives- but only to defend herself. This is her only motivation. Self-defense. THERE IS A WAR GOING ON, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DEFEND ANY LIVES BUT YOUR OWN? I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU. 
 I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. This book pisses me off more than most I've read this year. I have no clue why. 
 Her parents are portrayed as the World's Greatest Parents. Yes, clearly these two warriors are flawless and without flaw and haven't a flaw in the world. Yet they create a child that is going to live a life of constant danger and give her nothing to defend herself with. Sure, they're sad about it, but they constantly baby this character so when the worst happens, she is totally unprepared. And they saw this coming. This could have happened at any time. But they are built up as like...the dead father in Hugo or something. Just...so over the top in the selfless warrior way. And the author dedicated this book to her daughter. (GET IT? COOL PARENTS? ARE YOU GETTING IT?) 
 And insert formulaic love triangle! The nice handsome one and the handsome handsome one. Which will she choose? Should we give a shit? No! Nothing lost, nothing gained! Apparently she's soul mates with one of them! True love? Okay! 
 Does the true love pairing have anything to base their affections on, anything to build a relationship with? Oh hells no, but they glare at each other and yell a lot. That equals passion, right? Right?! 
 She really leads on the other guy. It bothers me. It bothers me a lot. Yet she gets jealous all the time. She also lies a lot, or hides the truth. Use your words. Just...Just use your words... 
 I was disappointed to say the least. I expected a more high fantasy world, and this was like misguided anime high fantasy where the world is confused and just trying to look cool instead of make sense. The writing is boring and rushed at times, then it drags like all hell. 
 This book is Vampire Knight's love triangle right down to physical description of the guys, and trying so hard to be Graceling if Kristin Cashore didn't give a shit about writing. It is a bad Tamora Pierce and KC knockoff. It will kill a few hours, and literally will kill them, and offer nothing to ponder or consider. It is bad anime in the form of a hardcover book large enough to use as a murder weapon. Take from that what you will.