Just about everyone I know loves this book, so I was prepared to be in store for a stunning new trilogy. But I don't really see it, and I don't think it has much to do with high expectations. 
 It had it's strengths. It certainly fills a niche for many people. Personally I felt it was about on par with Hunger Games or Divergent. Some aspects--or at least concepts--were better here, but others were not. 
 I suppose I'm not really cut out for "dystopian, grimdark-light, YA". Each one I have tried just feels very muddled in tone and execution. I see signposts pointing at the broader messages, but I don't experience them through the story. I feel I am frequently being smacked in the face with "LOOK AT HOW RAW AND REAL THIS IS!!!". But I never feel any raw realism, I see big efforts at grittiness with the text describing very impractical/unlikely/impossible things. 
 Obviously I'm missing something because people are going nuts over this series. If you are on the fence about trying it, I would say pick up Hunger Games which is much shorter. If you are floored by how awesome it is, then you will love this. If you think it's okay, you should probably skip this. 2.5-stars.