I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
 This is described as a book for fans of both Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen) and Kiera Cass (The Selection), and while I would agree with that, I would also add that this book far surpassed either of those works (*This comparison was originally made when I first read this via NG, and has now changed on Goodreads to Aveyard and Martin). It takes place in an alternate Britain ruled by magical aristocrats, and where the common people are required to serve as slaves for exactly ten years. 
 One important thing that stood out to me was the switching of POV's. Now, this can go terribly wrong, but somehow each character was an insightful piece to the overall plot, and I never once considered skipping over a single chapter in favor of another. However, I wish there was a limit to the POV's, because I felt as though it was truly difficult to see the depth and development of certain characters. This book covers a pretty decent stretch of time, and yet we still didn't truly get a deep look at the main characters and their complexities, mainly Abi. I have hope that there will be better depth and development in the sequel. 
 The setting is creative and thought out, and the chilling atmosphere is unbelievable. It did take me a few chapters to adjust and understand how the world operated, but I do wish that James had spent more time explaining the inner workings of the Skill. 
 It was so difficult for me to put this down and I can't deny that I did experience some reading withdrawals once I completed it. I devoured it in the span of a few hours, and despite not always feeling connected to the characters, I was impressed by the strong plot, lush writing, and unique setting. I'm ready for a sequel! 
 Overall 3.5 stars.