When I say I really wanted to like this book, I mean I really did. This had everything that was up my alley: royalty, a mission, a girl who seeks to help people, but everything about what I read was another disaster after another.

- I think my first issue with this book was the lack of worldbuilding. I had no idea about the kind of world I was stepping into when reading this book. It came across as very modern and then something random would make me question whether or not it was. I didn't get any sense of what the surroundings looked like and I didn't feel immersed in the story.
- This book is slower than my Grandma's driving. Impossibly slow. So slow to the point that it was an effort turning the page. Nothing happens. Like at all. For at least 60% of the book, I was sitting there questioning if I was reading some rambles from someone or an actual plot.
- I did like the writing, however. I think Maddyson clearly is talented but this is not the right book for her. I think more thought and attention to detail needed to be added to make the plot more rounded.
- The characters. Ember was dull and sad attempt of being some well-known assassin although we never see this from her. Roman was boring too. I didn't feel the developing romance or even why they would like each other.

Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I felt a lot of it was rushed where the pacing should have slowed and the rest of the book felt like I was hurtling down a very long cliff with no bottom in sight.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.