I have to admit, I really struggled to get through probably the first half of this book. For some reason the characters and the world just didn't capture my attention, the pacing felt tediously slow and the entire concept and plot felt tired and somewhat derivative. That being said, I am glad I persisted, because the second half become much more interesting and enjoyable. I think the main reason I started to like this story is because the main character, Adelina, is not your typical heroine. She is the sort of complex, layered character that created a powerful emotional dynamic to what would be an otherwise overused premise. She is, in many respects, the anti-hero or the almost-villain in a world that wants to be defined by black and white, but of course is actually coloured by shades of grey. She is flawed and fascinating, desperate and determined, distrustful and dishonest, struggling to accept and be accepted in a world that hates her and discriminates against her but is equally willing to use her and manipulate her when it suits. I ended up quite enjoying the magical elements and the world building once the intrigue and pace picked up and found myself satisfied by the ending, as well as interested in where the story will go next. 
 Actual rating 3.5 stars.