I loved this book! It did take a little to get into the book the first time around but is well worth the read. The twists in the plot, as well as the hints of romance kept me enthralled through the remaining section of the book! I am definitely a fan! ( )

I have tried multiple times to read this book. I should like it, a spunky orphan girl with unknown ancestry is trained as an assassin spy by a powerful woman. However, I just bog down in it. This is the second time I have tried to read it, and I just lose interest. I don't care what happens to the characters and I feel like an unsubtle moral lesson is being foisted on me (one with which I disagree). Anyway, I'll leave the bookmark in and try again in the future. It was reviewed well by others, so I had high hopes, but alas... ( )

It took me a couple tries before I really got into the book, maybe because the beginning scene is so bleak and sad with a setting up for a classic rags to riches. when I finally sat down to really commit to reading it I completely loved it.
It's not a classic rags to riches tale at all, in fact it's deceptive and full of lovely twists and turns. I really enjoyed Lale's character as she discovers first the meaning of family then of love. It's a wonderful story. ( )

My experience of this book was completely different reading it through for the second time. If you enjoyed it the first time, definitely read it through once more - it's absolutely worth the time.

I love this story. The tension between who Lale was born, who she's been molded as, and who she would like to become is something I think everyone can relate to. There's intrigue, action, romance and intricate plotting. The book is narrated in the first person from the perspective of some years after the events in teh book take place, which leads to lots of cryptic comments about what's happening and what it means. The first time I read the book, they drove me crazy trying to figure out what was going on. The second time through, they really added to the sinister tones of what I knew was happening.

Highly recommend! ( )

This novel is not your average fantasy story. It has a plot full of intrigue that is more like a spy story than a fantasy story. However, the characters are a bit bland for my taste. I would definetly recommend this book to Tolkien fans. ( )