Despite some flaws, I became invested in this story and it did not bore me. The story is interesting enough to keep me going, although I thought the second half was much stronger than the first half. I wouldn't have called it a page-turner until the last 100 pages, and then it gets pretty exciting. Although, this book in a nutshell is really just set-up for the next book, so beware cliffhangers! Johanna and Rafi stand out as the better characters and are keeping me invested, despite an at-times gag-worthy romance, whereas the Keeper quartet are a bit dull. I definitely want to read the sequel and find out where this story goes. Recommended for anyone who wants a decent fantasy-romance to sink their teeth into. 
 Spoilery thoughts below. 
 (view spoiler)[Thoughts on the first half 
 1) What is with the blatant sexism? First Rafi beats up Johanna thinking she is a male poacher without giving her a chance to explain or prove her innocence. The only reason the characters think this is bad is because she's a girl. It's not just an offhand comment either. It's a major plot point for the beginning of the novel. Rafi must also be brutally punished for his insolence in beating up a girl in what I can only describe as a torture chamber. And THEN Rafi becomes indebted to serve Johanna to regain his honor. UGH. Then later on Tex makes the following comment about Pira, "When a women's in that mood, it's better for us all to keep our distance." UGH. Was this really written by a female author? 
 2) Also, what is with these 2 page chapters? This book has too many POVs. Different POVs are for showing stories taking place in two different geographical locations. In which case there should be exactly two POVs in this book: Johanna and Jacare. POVs can also be used to show the thoughts inside two different characters' heads, even in the same location, but typically there are only 1-2 sentences of a character's internal thoughts in a chapter, and they are rarely important. The POV should certainly not be switching every 2-3 pages or mid-scene! All that accomplishes is to lower our attachment to the characters and make reading a jarring experience because the chapters are not allowed to build up any momentum. (There are 98 chapters in this book!!!) 
 3) Also, how did they literally find the assassin within 3 seconds of entering the performer's camp and then he literally gives himself away and admits to all his crimes with no provocation. 
 4) Not a fan of the 'girl/boy argue constantly but they're obviously in love' trope. Ok, ok, we get it, you just can't get her out of your mind Rafi, and Jo, you just can't stop thinking about his muscles... omg just stop, have them make out, and let's move on with the plot please. To make matters worse, this novel has two couples who fall into this trope, Jo/Rafi and Pira/Leao. I don't know why the author felt the need to redo the same romance plot twice. Also, please stop being angsty-jealous Pira. 
 5) It makes no evolutionary sense that before the Wall was built to keep out the White Walkers... I mean separate the Keepers and the people of Santarem, there is a race of long-lived magical superhumans and normal humans cohabiting a seemingly very small geographical area. 
 6) I'm still a bit confused how the Keeper quartet passed through the wall, but it somehow stops other Keepers from passing through? 
 Thoughts on the second half 
 1) Why are we parading Jo around in front of the people we suspect want to kill her?! Rafi and Lady DeSilva suspect Inimigo and Belem have murderous or gross lusty intentions toward the The Lost Princess/Jo, but yet they hire her to entertain them. This makes no sense. 
 2) Just when I thought, when is this book going to send our characters on their journey? And then BAM a million things happen at once. Ambush. Death. Kidnapping! And holy crap it's a chase scene. And now it's a page-turner! 
 3) Good, Jo and Rafi finally admitted they like each other and the plot is moving forward. Although a bit odd that their long-awaited kiss was right before Vibora starts slaughtering their companions. Being one of Rafi's guard is not a very safe position to be in in this book anymore, is it? 
 4) Rafi spends way too much time talking about how much he needs to protect Jo. And there's lots of descriptions or her being tiny and in need of protection and blah blah. Gag me. 
 5) Again, I'm not a huge fan of this whole race of magical superhumans thing, cause it means our villains are super overpowered, and our main characters (Jo and Rafi) can do nothing but run away. 
 6) The villains are so obviously evil in this book sadly. There's no real mystery or plot twists. 
 7) I thought the performers being part-Keeper as an explanation for the ease with which they performed acrobatics and such was an interesting back story. 
 8) Hopefully Jo can pull a giant army out of her cape or else she is not winning this game of thrones! 
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