I was a big fan of the Nightshade series, but I wasn't sure if I would like this series as much. However, I was determined to read it nonetheless, and I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this novel. The world was set up beautifully, just like in the Nightshade series. Ms. Cremer sucked me right into Ember and the Keeper's world. The thing that I liked the most about this novel is the fact that you didn't need to read the Nightshade series to understand anything. You could start with this series, and not be completely lost. While it is more interesting if you have read the Nightshade series, you don't have to read it in order to enjoy this series. 
 The characters were all well described and easily relatable. I really connected with Ember, and was rooting for Barrow all along. However, the one thing I didn't like was the fact that there wasn't much action/supernatural creatures until about half way through the book. Granted, this was setting up everything, but I still would have liked a little more. Also, I felt that there wasn't enough time spent on Ember's training. I mean she joined Conatus to train and become a great warrior, but there wasn't much written during her actual training; it was always implied or just mentioned in passing. 
 I found this to be a great prequel because it's nice to know the "story behind the story." It was interesting to see how everything that happens in the Nightshade series began. I highly recommend this book to anyone who was a fan of the Nightshade trilogy, and to people who are looking for something different. The book does end on a cliffhanger of sorts (nothing major, but enough), so I am eagerly awaiting the next in this series, Rise.