What I Liked:
I was intrigued by the concept of a magical boarding school filled with danger that forces students to learn to survive.
What I Didn’t Like:
The story didn’t really pull me in. There wasn’t a whole lot of relationship building because the main character, El, is such a loner. This first book if very much centered on her journey and self-discovery.
Overall:
YA is not my favorite, but I took a chance on this one because it sounded like a cross of Harry Potter and Lord of the Flies. The characters very much act like the teenagers they are, but if that doesn’t put you off then it’s a fun story to explore. Despite being on the fence with this one, I have added the next book in the series to my tbr list because I have hope that the world, characters, and relationships will develop more quickly now that everything is established.
