I read this in the A Dance of Dragons bundle. Excellent. I bought all the rest in the series I loved them so much. See my review of the bundle for more gushing. ( )

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I had read the prequel of the A Dance of Dragons series already, and was at first quite surprised that this story seemed to be about completely different characters. However, the princess does make an appearance in the book.

Jinji is the last of her people, which are massacred by a shadow force. When she's trying to survive by pretending to be a boy she meets up with Rhen, a prince who's onto a plot to destroy his family.

It was described as A Game of Thrones which is very dangerous as it sets the expectations very high without even having started the book. I don't think it lives up to that claim. It is far less political (perhaps this will be more in the later books), and more of a standard YA fantasy where two teenagers need to save the kingdom, both with a secret (one of them actually is a girl, the other a prince).

While I don't think it was the most memorable story, it was enjoyable to read. This being said, the shadow thing that is roaming around is actually quite interesting, so I'm curious to find out where that is going.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )

One word to describe this book: intense! Everything from the battles, to the secrets, to the descriptions of the characters and scenery, are all incredibly intense. This book had me biting my nails, stomach tided in knots, and completely entranced til the last word.

The synopsis hints at a story full of adventure, danger, and secrets. That's exactly what this book delivers, along with a good dose of humor, breathtaking descriptions, and wonderful characters.

Jinji is a fantastic lead character. Younger than her actions and mental maturity suggest, she faces a supernatural evil most wouldn't be able to believe if it was staring them in the face. She is a fantastic lead female character, and I love the way she holds onto her self respect and courage, through everything Fate tries to prepare her for. She follows her heart, and always does what she feels is right.

Rhen is an incredible character as well. I adore the relationship he has with his horse - much like a best friend, they have a connection most people would dream of. He's strong, handsome, brave, and follows his heart no matter what. He takes the ill treatment of his family with honor and dignity, always heeding his status of Prince, while still doing what needs to be done in order to protect his kingdom.

A kingdom which, to the denial and disbelief of his family and acquaintances, is in grave danger. While he doesn't know what the danger is exactly, his gut tells him there is something to fear. Together with Jinji, he goes on a wild adventure to discover the danger, challenging an evil he can not yet fathom.

The ending left me desperate for the next book, and I can not wait to read it!! The author is a fantastic writer, and she had me completely enthralled throughout the entire book. I would read anything written by her, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone, and I hope the second one is just as good as the first!

*I was given an eCopy of this book, from the author via YA Bound Book Tours, to read in exchange for an honest review.

See my blog post for this book!! Includes a bunch of teasers, and for the next month, a giveaway for 2 signed paperback copies of the book! See all this and more, here! ( )