The beginning of this book was engaging and wonderfully crafted. I couldn't imagine putting it down, and thought I would finish it in one sitting, easily. 
 Then the plot came slamming to a halt. Once Gilly starts at the Reform School (the entire point of the book), things got slow and boring. I didn't feel the magic you might find in similar tales, the story wasn't jumping off the page anymore. 
 I think this is an author who had a story in her head and then decided to do a quick rewrite with all the Descendants hubbub going on. I'd love to read the story that starts with Gilly in her boot and doesn't turn into a boring, two dimensional good guy.