GOODREADS
Blurb
How far would you go to save the one you love? Sixteen-year-old Maia Graystone lives in a world of fear. Trapped inside the hellish pit below Rhine prison with psychopaths and murderers, she spends every second worrying about the brother she left behind, knowing that if the other inmates don’t kill her first, the asteroid hurtling toward the earth definitely will. When a mysterious benefactor rescues her from prison and offers her a spot in the Shadow Trials, she jumps at the chance to receive a coveted place for her and her brother on the space station in the stars. Things get complicated when she’s paired with Riser, a dark soul harboring his own reasons for wanting the Emperor dead. With the asteroid days away, the Trials looming, and her brother’s fate hanging in the balance, she discovers the only thing more dangerous than the Emperor’s court is her conflicted heart.
Review
Holy crap! Why? Why? Why did I have to scarf that book down? That is how I feel right now. I literally just finished the book and am now writing up my review. Which I don't typically do. Normally a take a little while, soak up all that I read. But this time I totally can't. Even though my son's two caterpillars are trying to distract me.
As always, with starting a new series its a little slow at first to get the momentum going. Maybe it was the format I received it on from Netgalley for the ARC. As always this is my honest review of the book. I hate that I have to say it, but hey, what can you do. I absolutely love this book. At about 50% I couldn't put it down. Which is funny because this really isn't a fast paced book, that happens more towards then end when things start to really move. This sort of reminds me of a Hunger Games meets Red Queen with a little Reign of Shadows. There are probably a few other books similar to this. I loved the descriptions in the book are pretty vivid and really help get you into the book. As if you were there in the pit or there in one of the trials. Experiencing what was going on with Maia/Everly. Maia was not my favorite character though, I really enjoyed Riser. I only wish we could have gotten to see his point of view on things. I feel like he is a really complex character and would love to get inside his head. Though with Maia, the internal battle going on did keep me reading, even late into the night when I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait for Nov, I really need to get the second book in my hands now! Leaving on a cliffhanger always does that though. I need to know that everyone is okay! WAAAHHHH!