Well I read this book in a period where I am super busy, working practically all the time, both college and in the money-making sense, as well as playing sports way too much. I didn't think I would like this book, the blurb and just the theme led me to think the book would be pretty annoying. The beginning wasn't anything special, it laid down some pretty interesting ideas, but that's to be expected with dystopian, right? 
 What made me love this book was that, to me, it actually seemed like a work of art. The emotions felt by Cassia made me respect her for her strength. I loved the inclusion of nature to the book as it made me awe the world around me.I guess to me that's what makes a book special. If it resonates within me some sort of appreciation for the world. 
 My criticisms of the book would be that only Cassia and Ky were fully fleshed out characters. The others were nothing more than supporting actors. The only other thing that really bugged me was how every character could flawlessly know what the other was thinking; finishing each other's unsaid thoughts. Yeah. That just doesn't happen. It makes things too easy and is unrealistic. 
 I actually felt the emotion between our two main characters, even had a little twinge in my heart. Although I will say I wrote all that about how busy I've been for a reason, I haven't had time to read much, and I've noticed that when you haven't read that often you tend to feel the characters more strongly (well that's me anyway). Either way I really did like this book and more importantly I liked the arguments it expressed. Creativity's importance, What is the 'optimum' society? Utalitarianism, Totalitarianism, Communism... 
 The book really reminded me of Candor with a hint of Uglies (Though I will say Uglies has a far larger place in my heart and is a true piece of geniusness.)