Honestly, I wasn't expecting this book to so enjoyable. It just was. In fact, of all the other fantasy novels I've been reading recently, I expected this one to be the least enjoyable. 
 Wow, I was wrong. 
 The book's plot was basic. Step one: Get magical object. Step two: Use said object and save everyone, finem fabula. Yet there's quite an interesting twist near the end (view spoiler)[For the first time in forever, keeping a character's identity/role secret makes logical sense to me (hide spoiler)] that I wasn't expecting. 
 The protagonist seems kind of... Well... How do I say this... Rather like your stereotypical white girl. Y'know, like a member of that typical gaggle of girls who roam the hallways talking about clothes, boys, etc. I thought I might not really enjoy Meira's narration, but instead I grew to love it. Because her character changed and matured. She has a depth and substance that makes her relatable and real. She's sincere, hard-working, and she really does grow throughout this book. The rest of the characters range from completely forgettable (I just don't feel Theron, you guys. I really don't. He is just a bland love interest with only two parts of a personality: being nice and being supportive. Where's the depth?) to remarkably memorable (Mather goes through quite a bit in this book)... 
 (view spoiler)[And don't get me started on his treatment in book two (hide spoiler)] 
 In short, this book is kinda like junk food: it's not really full of high-end ingredients, but it tastes good. Other books I've read *cough Throne Of Glass cough* are filled with great language and poetic elements... but I can't quite take the awful taste of horrible characters and plot. And I'll take McDonald's over a bitter vegetable smoothie any day.