** spoiler alert ** 
 Wow. This book is amazing. 
 I haven't read a book that gave me this kind of feeling in a long time. Every time I put this book down, I thought about when I'd be able to dive back in. I stayed up late just to finish chapters. I read it during lunch and dinner. I even snuck in reading during breakfast! It's just THAT good. 
 I won't go into too much detail, because this book has so many reviews, and I'm mostly rehashing what everyone loved about it. Instead, I'll stick to three elements and my overall impressions of them. 
 The World: Having come into this novel with no prior knowledge about it, I was really pleasantly surprised to see how rich and unfamiliar the world of Ravka is. In Bardugo's acknowledgements she lists several books about Russian history as inspiration, and truly, her knowledge shows! It was so different than other fantasy worlds I've read about. I think Bardugo does an excellent job of blending Russian culture with elements like the Grisha, magic, and the Darkling. But I also loved that Bardugo it was clear that the Grisha, and magic itself, were in danger due to modern technology. It was such a cool juxtaposition. Everything about Ravka is rich and beautifully described, from the snowy expanse of Tsibeya to the woodland fairy tale Little Palace. It felt like such a feast for my imagination, and I really appreciated the care and detail Bardugo put into every description. 
 The Characters: Every character was great. Alina is snarky and stubborn and sour, but she's also funny and loyal and passionate. Every character has obvious strengths and weaknesses, and I think that's why I enjoyed them so much. Even The Darkling, an awesome villain, had such a pull about him! But my favorite by far was Genya, who reminded me of Joan from Mad Men. So much beauty and so many secrets. All in all I thought the characters and dialogue were as effortless and enjoyable as the world. 
 My Favorite Element: I pretty much adored the entire book. But I think my favorite part had to be Mal and Alina's friendship. So many times in YA, "insta-love" occurs, and I don't necessarily think it's always realistic (or believable). But Alina and Mal have an incredibly close understanding of one another, and that gives both of them strength. Mal doesn't fall in love with Alina because she suddenly becomes beautiful and powerful; he loves her because she is his best friend, because she is strong, and because she passionately believes in something. He loves her because he knows everything about her, and that only makes her more wonderful to him. I really appreciated that, and watching their relationship develop was so fun. 
 I cannot wait to start reading the sequels. I already know they'll be just as good, if not better, than this book.