This is the case where a book starts out super strong, but peters out, despite being an all-around interesting read. There were things I didn't care for about, things I wish were better explained, and the romance progression kind of threw me off, but the world and storyline was entertaining enough to keep me reading and despite my problems with it, I still really enjoyed it in the end. 
 Tilla was a great character and I liked seeing her progression through the book. She and Jax are half siblings and I really appreciated their bond. While there's nothing really special about them, they do hold their own against the threats against them and my heart pulled for Jax in the end. The whole lot wasn't bad to get to know, even the one I didn't like. I also really liked the mix of magic, fantasy, and action that the author did very well. That's what really kept me engaged in the book. Lyriana has magic and Zell is a skilled warrior. I loved what they brought to the table and learning more about each of their people. I loved seeing how Lyriana pulled from her magic and the extent of it and also learning about the different kinds of magic in their world. Zell was an interesting character and his tribe is brutal, but intriguing. He's the aloof, strong, yet silent type and while there were certain things I liked about him, I didn't really appreciate the romance between him and one of the female characters. 
 In actuality, I could've done without the romance at all. While I will say those kinds of emotions are key to certain plot lines, it wasn't developed enough for me to really care for it. And like I said, I wish the history of this land was developed a bit more. I couldn't really care for the main characters' parents and their reasons to rebel. While I could easily understand why they did what they did, I just didn't sympathize with them and you don't really get enough of both sides to figure out who you side with. 
 In any case, I really enjoyed reading this and it's a lot lighter than your typical fantasy and magic book. The characters alone draw you in and you kind of want to stick around and see what happens to them. Their adventures are filled with action and drama as well as betrayal, and if there were a sequel (but please only make a duology, because that's really all it needs) I would definitely read it.