So I'll do a more in depth review later. Maybe. Anyway this was an okay book. A quick and easy read, although i totally called it a Goose Girl retelling way back near the beginning. It was confirmed when the princess shows up in the story at the pool and the dog flips out on her. Although I had to wonder how she was going to pull it off what with the servant girl being dead and all. SPOILER, SPOILER CAUSE MY HANDY LITTLE HOW TO HIDE THE SPOILER THING ISN'T ON THE SIDE RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T REMEMBER HOW TO HIDE THEM. SERIOUSLY SPOILER. anyway the fact that the princess was the dog was interesting and I'll admit I did not see that coming. END SPOILER ( i miss my handy help box) 
 Anyway I liked the fact Blackthorn was able to evolve a little. I'm glad she didn't just get over her rage and hatred in an instant. It stayed with her, but she also learned how to put it aside by the end. After all because of her rage and bitterness she took off o go murder a man without any kind of plan and she ditched an innocent man, fully believing he was a total cad. Okay not the term she used but i really wanted to. I had a feeling her bitterness towards men was going to get her manipulated. But she learned from the experience I mean she realized that being angry is not going to get her the revenge she so desperately wants. I feel like I'm not making sense. To sum up Blackthorn is a flawed character who has the capacity to grow She's still going to do something about the man who made her into what she is today. But at least she'll stop to think about what she's going to do first. I think 
 Grim was an interesting character, I learned about Blackthorns big secret and now i want to know his. What happened to him, or what did he do that had such an impact on him that he can't sleep, and that he feels the need to be useful to Blackthorn and to protect her. He's not in love with her, and she didn't want him around. But I feel like he imprinted on her like a duck or something, he needed something to care for and she was there. Not that she wanted him too. Still I liked the dynamics between the two. And as damaged at they were at least they had each other, someone else who could at least understand a little of what the other went through even though they didn't know the details. 
 Oran was such a decent prince, after all the obligatory bad boys I've been seeing in my books, I truly enjoyed reading about him. I mean he's nice guy, but he's not a push over. I mean he knows what is traditionally acceptable as the heir to his kingdom but he's determined to follow his own path. He cares for his people and he's willing to put in the work in order make them happy and keep his kingdom running smoothly. And I loved the example of his judgement during the event of the missing girl. It showed he was smart, clever enough to get the guilty party to admit their own guilt and he came up with a viable way to punish the guy. But he's not perfect, he had his doubts, his insecurities and he was fallible. I think this was one of the strengths of this book none of the characters are invincible they all have their flaws, and they all have issues. I feel as though nowadays, everyone's main character had got to be perfect, the super special snowflake. none of these people are, they all have their strengths and weaknesses and they all make the story. 
 I don't have much to say about the princess, because SPOILER she really didn't show up until the end END SPOILER and the servant girl. I can't really blame her for trying. I think she was kind of stupid for trying. But you know the chance of a lifetime and all that. And she kind of redeemed herself. When she woke Blackthorn up when Grim left. And the random fairy/elf guy... Well at least he wasn't a talking horse head. 
 Okay i didn't intend to write this much, But yeah. Anyway to sum up I did like the story the twist at the end, really did catch me by surprise. Marillier is a good writer, there were times when i was going to put the book down and not finish but she kept me wandering long enough that i ended up finishing the story. I will more than likely read the next book in the series if there is one. I want to see the Prince and the Princess's married life together, and how the events of the first book affected them. I also want to see more of Blackthorn and Grim now that they finally admit to being friends and the Servant girl C-something i want to see if she can further redeem herself and maybe possibly find a better solution to her plight. Yeah i have no idea how that would work. 
 Oh the cover i did like the cover. And that's about it. Until Next time.