This book has been on my to-read shelf for a little over two years. I really wish this had been my first experience with Fairy books. But it wasn't. Instead I read The Iron King. *sigh* My mistake. (And yes, I know I'll be making enemies by saying that.) 
 Melissa Marr's writing is wonderful, without being overly flowery. I'm not bogged down by too many details. Instead, she lets the characters take centre stage. And Oh! how I LOVE the characters! Seth is so delicious, on so many levels. The ultimate good bad-boy, complete with piercings. Aislinn is strong and unrelentingly stubborn. I love that she is able to stand her own ground, no matter what. And what story is complete without some villains. The beauty, though, is that the villains are unstable in their alliances. Those who start out evil, will undoubtedly switch sides. And vice versa. 
 The story is not too big for this book, which was the main problem I felt in Iron King. Here, there is not too much activity going on at all times. And though it isn't a cliffhanger, the groundwork which has been lain promises for a solid series. I look forward to book two, if only to secure my Seth fix.