Actual rating: 3.50 
 Unfortunately, this book, its characters and I didn't connect the way it happened with the Legend series. 
 I don't know why but I felt that something, some kind of spark was missing entirely. Said this, I don't mean I didn't like the book, I actually enjoyed it but it didn't win over my heart. 
 I adored the world building, it felt spectacular...lavish and enticing and at the same time definitely dark. I also appreciate the fact that Marie Lu tried to do something different with Adelina, for once we have a main character that doesn't walk in the light, much the opposite...she thrives on darkness. 
 Mind you, I value (I do!) Marie Lu's effort to give us a main character mainly evil and, in doing so, to create something different. Too bad, I'm not sure she manged to pull it off very well. 
 I liked Enzo but I'm of the opinion that his character went somehow to waste; he had lots of potential but it wasn't really exploited. I would have liked to know him a bit more and to get some chapters from his POV. (view spoiler)[ and yes, I'd have rather see him live. *my ship sank before getting the chance to sail T.T* In addition, I didn't get what kind of relationship him and Adelina had. Some more details on that regard would have been appreciated (I totally failed to make sense of it, was it a crush? A fling? What?) (hide spoiler)] 
 Raffaele is another character that deserved to be know better. Actually, I liked him or at least I did until the decision he takes toward the end of the book. Firstly, Dante (sort of) deserved what he got---he started it, after all! Secondly, I cannot see the sense of his choice. "I'm sending you away but know that I loved Enzo too"---so, because he loved him you are sending the person he was interested in (or cared for) away? Riiiiight. 
 What about Adelina? 
 I liked the fact that for once the bad girl gets to be the "hero" and narrator of the story. 
 I can't say I loved her but at least I didn't despise her. She was okay but - and there is a but - sometimes I had too much of her. 
 Let me explain, she is either commiserating herself or thinking evil thoughts, after a while she does feel very repetitive and boring especially when you have her as main narrator *basically it felt like there were too many chapters with her POV*. I like her being "screwed-up" and sort of "mean and twisted" but Gosh, sometimes she went on babbling a bit too much for my tastes (and nerves). 
 I would have liked a bit less chapters with Adelina's POV and some with Enzo's (alongside those of Teren's and Raffaele's) 
 The pacing of the book was slightly off, swampy at times. 
 Things basically started to speed up and get interesting only after page 200 *practically way past 50%, duh*. By then I had started to get very bored - and coupled with the fact that Adelina's POV felt hard to digest - annoyed too. 
 Fortunately, Marie Lu's writing style is so good it makes you keep on reading nonetheless *Sill, Marie Lu, I know you can do better!*. 
 (view spoiler)[ Another thing that got me yawning was Adelina's initial test. Did we have to go through all the damn gemstones one by one? It felt endless and I was really, really glad when it finally managed to end. *Gosh!* (hide spoiler)] 
 I get that Adelina is the main character and the others are supporting characters (and passing ones at that) but still...I felt the characterization of them could have been better, to me it definitely lacked something. 
 I did not feel any kind sparkle there. I liked the characters but I didn't love them; sadly they didn't make it to my heart. 
 Needless to say, I'll still be reading The Rose Society (view spoiler)[ after such an ending how could I not? (hide spoiler)] and I won't exclude the possibility to fall in love with this series, yet. Maybe it will happen with the next novel...time shall tell.