Mare Barrow is a Red by blood but has an ability that any Silver would kill for. And she is not the only Red out there with ability to turn the tide of the war that has been going on for ages with the Reds paying the price for generations. She is on the run but she hasn't given up... as she tries to track down the people of her kind, Prince Maven is close behind her. Her time in the Silver courts has taught her a few things about politics and war. She needs these people to win the war and yet there are things that she needs to control if she ever hopes to win - her power and her heart. And there is the fact that Prince Cal maybe on the run with her, but his loyalties are questionable. 
 The plot has evolved and with a whole new range of characters introduced there were quite a few surprises the author sprung on her readers. I quite liked them - the surprises I mean. It was fun to see new blood in the story while some of the familiar names faces became more familiar to me. I loved getting to know Mare's family more closely and wish Cal would open up just a bit more. I also liked the general turn the plot has taken - especially with the new player in the war. Infact, I can frankly say that I was quite happy with this book except for two things - Mare & the cliffhanger ending. I understand that the author tried to show Mare dealing with some serious issues - but her voice felt irritating at points. I wished she would just stop complaining... Yes, there was a target on her back that no one else has - but she wasn't alone in it. Instead of feeling any empathy or sympathy for her, Mare's voice made me want to just shake some sense into her at times - it was annoying. As for the ending, I know cliff hangers are supposed to be epic and make us want to pick up the next book - but with the way Mare's voice was annoying me, the ending only makes me dread the next book. So in a way, I had only one problem with this book - Mare. But end of the day, protagonist or not, Mare is just one character. There are so many things about this book that is likeable, that it was easy to ignore her. 
 Now while I try guessing what is in store for the third instalment of this series and pine away for it - you go give this book a try if you like Young Adult - Fantasy/Dystopia.