Sherrilyn Kenyon obviously has a very well thought out world that the Chronicles of Nick allow a YA audience to enter. Unfortunately, this world isn't explored in an organic way for new readers. For those entering the world for the first time, it feels somewhat half-formed. Things come out of the blue. Things that are probably well-established and motivated for readers familiar with the series. But part of the joy of the YA audience is that it's an opportunity to introduce an entire new reader group to this world. Yes, there will still be insider Easter eggs for the people who've been there from the beginning. But this is a way for new readers to discover and explore. I didn't necessarily feel like this was the case here. Additionally, this suffered from being oversimplified for a younger audience. 
 Yet, this series has potential, and I'll probably keep reading to see where it goes.