Absolutely horrible. Don't let the synopsis fool you--THIS IS NOT AN ADVENTURE/FANTASY YA NOVEL. This is a horribly set up love triangle. 
 This 14-point font, 2.5 spaced hardcover was a waste of money. How did it get a hardcover? Oh, the cover is pretty. Right. YA novels have huge egos when it comes to their covers. If it was in paperback form, this book wouldn't reach 250 pages. 
 Not only was the plot weak and predictable, and not only was the love triangle so annoying, but the grammar and writing style is all over the place. The characters are, indeed, cardboard. The main character, Alexa (or Alex), is flat. Not to mention she just CAN'T get over Damian's eyes. TWO HUNDRED PAGES AND YOU'RE STILL TELLING ME HE HAS BLUE EYES. IF I DON'T KNOW THAT BY NOW, YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG. 
 And all throughout the book she TELLS us what's happening. 
 "I'm sad. I watched this thing happen. I could have been the captain of the guards. No one can beat me at sword fighting. Although I just woke up from a heavy sedative, I could easily disarm these guys, but I didn't." 
 She doesn't SHOW us anything and that made reading the book boring. 
 There were two specific parts of the book (besides most of the sentences starting with "I") that actually made me feel like climbing the walls. The first example: 
 "Very slowly, the prince turned to face us, one eyebrow lifted, a sneer on his handsome face. 'I believe I asked you to return before nightfall. Yesterday.'" 
 I'm going to quickly recap: 
 Alexa was AND IS afraid of the prince's anger if she didn't return in time. Literally afraid. SHE SAID SHE WAS AFRAID. She knew he could have her skin for not directly following orders. 
 Prince Damian is known for having a terrible rage and Alexa has always been bothered by it. 
 She was warned just before going to his room that he was throwing a tantrum. HE WAS THROWING A TANTRUM. I know tantrums can be a lot of feet stomping and yelling, but this is the kind of guy that would throw/break things. 
 THERE ARE 2 ONE SENTENCE PARAGRAPHS BEFORE THIS PARAGRAPH. You couldn't add three more sentences to show us he was angry? 
 Instead of a sneer, how about some broken glasses? HE'S A PRINCE. HE'S GOT TEN MILLION. WHAT ARE A FEW SMASHED GOBLETS? You couldn't show some torn curtains? HE'S A PRINCE. GET SOMEONE TO MAKE NEW ONES. How about some wild eyes? Mussed hair? 
 This is the anger that's been talked about every single time his character is mentioned? A sneer? A SNEER???? 
 And then: 
 I pressed my fist to my chest and bowed. "I apologize, Your Highness. We were unavoidably detained." 
 "Did you at least accomplish what I asked?" 
 "Yes, my lord." 
 "Fine. That is all." 
 Fine. After a tantrum... Fine. 
 Another example of Larson's style: 
 The middle of the book (which drags, let's be honest) takes place mostly during travel and sleeping in tents. Okay, I've slept in tents before. They're freaking dark. FREAKING. DARK. Even with a camp fire burning down or already just embers outside the tent, it's not bright. Even when your eyes adjust, it's not bright. IT'S FREAKING DARK. 
 So far, every time they're in a tent, settling down for sleep in the darkness, gazes and motions and EVERYTHING is described. Let's remember this is first-person so Alexa should have NO IDEA what someone's face is doing in the dark. 
 BUT WAIT. LET ME GRAB SOME TEXT FOR YOU HERE ON PAGE 200. 
 "In the darkness, it was hard to read his expression." 
 GREAT. SHE REALIZES SHE'S IN THE DARK--WAIT A MINUTE 
 Not even a SENTENCE later--no really, it's the very next sentence like Larson suddenly has amnesia: 
 "His gaze dropped to my mouth." 
 OH, ALEXA IS USING HER SUPERB NIGHT VISION AGAIN. 
 Later on down the page, a smirk is described and closing eyes and "appearing to be completely relaxed." 
 THERE IS NOTHING REDEEMABLE ABOUT THIS BOOK. Do NOT waste your money on it.