I really enjoyed this. I read it quickly and was captivated by the worldbuilding, characters and history. 
 After reading some of the other reviews on here, I can understand why the romance aspect fell flat for some people. But surprisingly, it didn't for me. (view spoiler)[But then again, I do have a huge soft spot for destined romance and all that jazz. (hide spoiler)] 
 And even though I found myself predicting some of the plot twists, there were other reveals that caught me completely, pleasantly, by surprise. 
 I'm also definitely intrigued enough to sit around impatiently bemoaning the lack of book 2. Which, given my history of YA trilogies, is high praise. I care about the characters, I'm invested, now give me more! 
 Different, fun, and definitely recommended.