Review to come! 
 Update 4/25/17: 
 See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces 
 I'm actually pretty surprised by the low ratings this book has on Goodreads, but I can understand why this book might not be for everyone. However, I truly enjoyed this start to the Effigies series, and am looking forward to checking out the sequel as soon as it comes out! With a story that's basically a mix of Pacific Rim and The Avengers, it's a definite must read. 
 This story definitely starts off with a bang and takes off from there. It's a very thrilling and fast-paced adventure. There were some slow parts in the middle, but I honestly didn't mind because that was where Ms. Raughley delved more into the world and allowed us to get to know the characters better. When you're thrown into the story like you are in this novel, I think it's better to have some of those slow parts because it's gives both the characters and the reader a breather and to really understand what's going on in the story. I thought that Ms. Raughley did an excellent job at setting up the world and building upon it throughout the book, and there was never a time when there was just a info-dump. We're slowly introduced to the world so that by the end we have a good understanding about the future that is the setting. Again, some people might not like this, but to me, it worked in this book. 
 One of my favorite parts of this book was the idea of the Effigies. To me, it was incredibly original and I thought that the author did a great job at establishing what the Effigies are. This is an awesome book all about girl power! All 4 Effigies are females, and I loved that the author incorporated the stereotypes and stigmas that females leaders face in our world as well. It made the book feel more realistic. Plus, the author added in the influence of social media which plays a major role in this book. These 4 girls are super famous, so every single move they make is criticized. But the best part about all of this is that these girls aren't just your stereotypical female leads. No, they actually have the powers to fight (and I mean 
 really fight 
 ) the evil that are plaguing the world and are truly the world's only hope. Every girl has a very unique and individual personality that really added to the story and I would actually love to read this story from different POVs. The author does a great job at the characterization throughout the book, and I'm excited to see how these characters continue to develop over time. There is a hint of romance in the book, and it's definitely not necessary (but it's there nonetheless). However, it's not the main focus of the book and it never overshadows the actual story at hand. I'm hoping it stays that way too because I would hate to see this story become all about relationships. 
 The entire plot was super fun and has plenty of thrilling action! Seriously, the fight scenes in this book are absolutely fantastic and I felt the power and the intensity rippling off the page. It was insane! Ms. Raughley definitely knows how to write a good action scene, and every time she seemed to up the ante just a little bit more...which makes me even more excited for the sequel! 
 I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the Effigies series, Siege of Shadows! This was an excellent start to a new series, and it's one I would highly recommend checking out. With 4 super strong and relatable female leads, a ton of exciting action, and an original plot, you really can't go wrong with picking this one up! 
 Happy reading :)