Rating: 3.5 Stars 
 There's not much else to say besides: I really, really enjoyed this book. The only problem for me is that it was too short. I really need to start buying the entire series before I start reading the first book, just in case I love it. 
 The plot: In a future dystopia USA June is a top cadet for the "Republic", she's smart and deadly and a loyal solider. Day is a wanted criminal, smart, brave and ready to embarrasses the republic at any given moment. One night June's brother, also a solider, is killed when Day breaks into a hospital. June is sent to capture him and she is driven by the need to avenge her brother's death. 
 I think what I enjoyed most about this book was June. I can't explain how much I enjoy SMART female protagonists and June is the smartest of the smart. Lu did so well to not fall in the trap that a lot of writers in this genre fall into, that is that trap of having a female protagonist who is so "smart", so deadly, so talented, yet somehow manages to do the stupidest things, misses the most obvious clues and ends up being saved. 
 Day is in the same boat, he is, in many ways the same as the stereotypical male protagonist, smart, deadly, brave, good looking, but Lu sets him apart by making him gentle, kind, merciful. He is soft, but not weak. It's a lovely combination. 
 The plot in this book is strong. Lu is very good at weaving in clues that are so subtle you miss them, but they later become so obvious and you're annoyed at yourself for not seeing them. The results in the end are not unexpected, due to the nature of the genre, but it is still an enjoyable ride. 
 The romance is also very well played. I love the subtlety of June's conflicting feelings for Day, the person she thinks killed her brother. In the end its a very natural progression, and doesn't feel like the typical "instalove". I'm excited to get to the sequel of this one, I hope its everything I'm dreaming of. I have also heard great things about The Young Elites and I've enjoyed Lu's writing enough to try her other stuff. 
 If you liked this you'll like: The Knife of Never Letting Go.