I received a copy of this book in a giveaway from the publisher. 
 Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to write huge reviews anymore, but I do have a few things to say about this book. 
 First, I was extremely confused going into this book as to why the author was being advertised as the new J.K. Rowling. This led me into expecting the book to be about children and magic... and how very wrong I was. I actually had to re-read the first few chapters to get my brain into thinking that no... this is not a book like Rowling's Harry Potter... this is something entirely different. 
 I don't think the Rowling comparison did this book any favors because in that process of rethinking about my expectations of this book, I grew slightly frustrated and annoyed because what I wanted was... a book about magic and children, essentially. 
 That is perhaps my fault. 
 Once I got past the whole no magic and no children aspect, I ate this story up. Shannon is an amazing writer but not in the same way as Jacqueline Carey is an amazing writer. Shannon is an amazing writer all on her own without my being able to compare her to any other author that I know. 
 The story is amazing and the plot... well let's just say when I got to that point when everything changed, my chin hit the floor. I think I even said "what... the... fuck..." out-loud to my pages, hopefully not on the ferry to work. 
 Mind blowing. 
 Really, really good. 
 And I am so glad I got to read this so early in Shannon's career for a long one she will have. 
 You now have a fan for life. Thank you for the entertainment.