This book had the potential to be great but it just fell short. The story was good and the characters were likable and even relatable but it just didn't cut it. I actually loved the story. It's a story of a girl who volunteers herself for marriage to a king who kills his brides on each day at dawn. She does this in order to avenge the death of her best friend who was one of the brides killed and her plan is to kill the king. What makes the story so great is that she manages to live through the dawn and the next dawn and on for weeks. Not only does she succeed in grabbing and keeping his attention but she starts to actually get to know him. This is where things get complicated. 
 What I didn't like was how the story would move smoothly and then just stop in places. It would move on to the next thing without giving any clarity. The part I disliked the most was the ending. I could not have been more dissatisfied. I would have been happier with an all out cliffhanger at least knowing it would give me closure in the next book but the way it ended was not like that. It gave no clues to how the story really ended or I guess I should say continued. I was not only let down but confused. Also based on the way the book was written and how things were talked about then dropped I felt like I will never get the completely fleshed out satisfying ending I deserve after reading a story with so much potential. The ending was nothing short of disappointing after such a good story being built up. 
 I really hope that the second book will come through and give me some of the answers to the questions I have and satisfy the gnawing sensation I have inside to know how things truly panned out. 
 Other than the ending, the magic in the book is something I really felt was not given the attention and explanation it deserved. It was touched on here and there but I was almost like why is this even being mentioned. The curse is significant but the other magical aspects talked about were almost mentioned in a flippant and off hand way. What's the background of it? Who has it and what even is it? None of this is really explained. The one time an attempt is made at referring to the magic and those who have possess it, it still isn't explained. I almost feel like the book would have been better without it. Other than the curse it really didn't have much significance. I mean it obviously did and it comes up for a purpose but it's just not as clear as it should have been. There should have been so much more or at least a clearer explanation.