Not sure how to rate this book. 
 Plot-wise I'd give it 4 stars but sadly the characters left me lukewarm feelings. 
 The pace was good with only a few slow moments, the writing was smooth and really fun to follow. Kellen's point of view was highly ironic which I adored. 
 Sadly I really didn't connect with the characters, they were good but we didn't click. Main and secondary characters did not feel flat or stereotyped but as I said they left me with lukewarm feelings. 
 The magic system the author devised was original and somehow quite complicated (if I were an initiate I'd have an headache believe me!!). There was a good amount of action and surprising twists and revelations with a fair amount of political intrigue and violence (both toward humans and animals---I'm still recovering from the animals part). Besides Miss Parfax was positively kick-ass and in the weirdest sense possible! Oh and Kellen's family was----full of pieces of shit. 
 Anyways, I'd be looking forward to book two so---all is well! LOL