Actual rating: 2.5 stars
While I really liked the premise, I felt that the story lacked world building and it was far too trope-y for my tastes. Orphaned protag, instalove, brooding male love interest, (unnecessary) angst, and there were a few moments where one character physically assaults the MC, but that is brushed aside because of the character's past. I didn't really care for the impulsive MC, Vee, and felt there were many things that didn't make sense. I am sure the second book addresses a great deal of these and possibly does a little more world building, but I will not be continuing with the series.

I received this book free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I chose this book because it fit for my challenge on one of my groups and I figured it would be short and easy to do. I wasn't really expecting much, however I was pleasantly surprised! It was really great!

I give this four stars however because some of the big plot twists were obvious, and I never figure out plot twists.

That being said, I'm really glad I read this because it was really interesting and enjoyable. I loved the characters and found myself feeling just about every emotion with this book.

This book was fantastic! It is a very compelling dystopian that will make you think about so many issues. While reading this I kept putting myself in the shoes of some of the characters. I felt very connected to the story. This book felt very real.

I very much enjoyed the main character, Vee. She is very bold, and a little headstrong. I admired her unwavering love for her brother, and her will to help others. I also liked Cason. He lost so much in his life, and his pain shaped him into what he is. I thought the romance between Vee and Cason could have been built upon more, but overall it was sweet and to the point. I loved how they came together in the book. Ramsey was a character that I felt so much for. I honestly didn't care for her fate in the book, but I have to admit that it works.

This book will give you an emotional overload. There is just so much going on and so much to feel. This is a dystopian book, so there is going to be a lot of struggle and a lot of misfortune. Some of the topics touched upon in this book are going to make your heart ache. Ramsey was one of the characters that made me feel a tremendous amount of love and sympathy for.

I love how the author is not afraid to touch upon some tender subjects in this book such as child abuse and child sexual abuse. While it was evident in the story, it wasn't overly elaborated upon. I think that it should have been just ever so slightly.

The world building is quite good. I think that there could have been more specifics and details about the world as a whole, but the author did a great job of making me feel like I was there. The dystopian world created was very realistic.

The plot has some twists in it that I didn't see coming, which I totally appreciate. There is nothing I hate more than an overly predictable plot.

When I reached the end of this book, I couldn't help but think that this story would make a great series. The ending left some things open for interpretation, and I think that the author could write more to this story. If more books were to follow this one, I would be first in line!

Overall, I am totally impressed by this book! The world building could be improved on, and I would have liked a more final conclusion to some of the characters and the world as a whole, but I adored this book! If you are a dystopian fan or a fan of strong female protagonists, then I definitely recommend this one!

3.5 out of 5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book. It is a pretty simple premise in which children are taken from their families and made to work in this dystopian setting, but the authors vivid imagery ties the story together nicely. There are some great little plot twists and some killer action sequences thrown in the mix to keep the adventure going. Vee was a great lead and the book is full of fascinating characters. While the writing is sharp, I did feel like it dragged in some sections. Overall a short read with a tonne of potential.

This is a strange young adult story but i loved it i loved the story line and yhe characters i fell in love with the story i didnt want it to end well done

Gorgeous title and interesting premise, but the writing didn't grab me. It felt excessively wordy and a bit like a teenager using big words in an attempt to sound smart. I wouldn't recommend this for adult fans of YA (like myself), but high school YA readers may enjoy it quite a bit, as I think the language may appeal more to a teenage reader.