I wouldn’t recommend this book to myself if I was still a teenager. The characters in the book wouldn’t be good influences to those at the same age; they smoked, drank liquor, cursed, and other unscrupulous behavior. I also don’t think it was appropriate to have a mom who lets her kid do whatever the hell she wants; major parental irresponsibility!

But reading it from an adult’s point of view, this book wasn’t so bad. It was mostly a love story. Although, I didn’t feel much connection between Kaye and Roiben; their relationship wasn’t clearly describe on why and how they seemed to connect. They didn’t show much of longing and being deeply drawn to each other. I guess it somehow lacked building up the momentum of their relationship. There wasn’t something solid that proved any unfathomable love between them. I did love the humor they churn at each other, though.

Aside from that, since this was focused on romance, there wasn’t much adventure. It was straight-forward mystery-solving, riddle-answering, faerie-politics-and-war type of tale. Modern as it is said, since it’s established in a sort of dark urban environment.

I am still a bit undecided with my rating, I liked it, but it was somehow ok. But then I think about when this was published, which was originally during 2002; where I think not much tales like Holly Black’s were written. If I had read this as early as it was published I would have given this a perfect 5! But since I have read other much enthralling books that have been published lately, I’ll settle with liking it.

I do admire Holly Black for being brave enough to write a book this dark that I know she’d probably already expected the cynicism that parents would feel with the edginess of the tale that might appear excessively sinister for teens.

For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com