~ 3.5 Stars 
 Kestrel doesn't need or want anyone to protect her. She wants to be a force - a woman - of her own making. In this world though you're either married or you're a warrior and the decision is on a countdown clock. One day she goes into town with her friend Jess and upon hearing that a slave being sold can sing - she buys him in impulse despite the high cost. What will Arin cause Kestrel to lose, to gain, and to find? 
 The book really picked up pace towards the end when the betrayal (view spoiler)[Arin poisoning all of Kestrels people at a party to gain back freedom (hide spoiler)], the battle, and the escape happen. The whole beginning was more just running around playing games and dressing up for balls. Kestrel is really good at war games just not the actual act of fighting which was really interesting to see play out. She took matters into her own hands whenever possible and I really admired that about her. I couldn't find myself "putting" myself into the story though...Kestrel just wasn't a really relatable character and I feel like we never really got to fully know our characters thought, feels, and emotions.