Strong story, good characters
938627
This is a well-written set of books, with a strong female protagonist, ample villainy, and quite good storylines that move right along.  Well worth reading.  Enjoy!
1136463
This was a great story filled with emotion and human endurance. It was a looong book that focused more on character development than a traditional plot, but I'm not about to complain about that. I really liked the world building and the twists that the story offered. Most of the book revolved around Mira, a young woman torn from grace and trapped in a wretched prison. She's a deeply flawed heroine, mentally and emotionally, and it's been a while since I've read a book where the "damsel in distress" was the main character. I liked her a lot, understanding that she was completely unprepared for being alone and literally trapped in a prison of darkness. At times, her constant sabotaging was hard to read through, and I wished she would be a little stronger. But the ending chapter definitely made up for all my well placed hopes. I'm actually really excited for the openings the ending provides. The relationships are fantastic and I have plenty of questions regarding the magic of the world. A great story with a very flawed heroine who I can sympathize with and ultimately cheer for. Check it out!
4395455
This is a pretty strong start to what promises to be a good story. There are many post-apocalyptic novels in this genre, and this one holds its own.
4102904
This book was a pleasant surprise. I really struggled with the beginning, but about 10% into it, I really started enjoying it. The characters are people you end up caring about very much. The story is well done. There are a few grammar/edit errors, but not as many as other kindle books I've read. Overall, I enjoyed the story thoroughly. I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4747939
I really liked this story because it was a little different and kept me guessing. The two main characters were really strong and had many problems to overcome. While they did this successfully, it seemed as if they were not going to make it, especially the hero as he had that problem of the Irish temper to control as well as his past mistakes that came back to haunt him.

The female lead also has a fiesty Irish temperament to contend with as well as all the village gossips, but in the end, her kindness wins the day.
2832648
It took me a few days to sort out my opinion of this book, a sure sign it made me think. The characters are intriguing and well-developed, the plot is interesting, the action is consistent in its application, and the story offered all-around satisfaction. It offers a good start, middle, and end with a clear path to the next book.

Indigo's relationship with Jayce confused me somewhat, mostly because the social pressures for her to stay with him seemed artificial. Part of the problem came from my not quite grasping her social status situation, which felt more complex than the explanations suggested. Her minor title seems to be derived purely from her engagement to Jayce, and the only thing that allows her to receive training as a healer. Perhaps I'm ascribing my own, modern understanding of "engagement" to the situation when I say this makes no sense, but I was offered no other explanation. Beyond that, I'm at a loss to understand why any ruler, regardless of superstitions or cultural taboos, would allow the waste of magical talent by restricting its training to only those who are titled.

Despite that rather minor setting-related quibble, I enjoyed the story a great deal. The ascard take on magic works, its limitations are reasonable and satisfying, and I was able to follow and accept the arc of Indigo's power growth. Her character growth is well done, and she's strong enough to carry the mantle of protagonist with ease.

I recommend this story for anyone who enjoys high fantasy.
2672089
Have to say I enjoyed the story and characters.  There are a number of really rough transitions that make it hard to follow what is or was going on. Overall, worth the read and am headed for book 2 now!
2079735
The author has done a fine job creating a compelling story and character that have depth and sometimes pathos.
I look forward to other books by this author.
1272629
For a young adult book this story did a good job of drawing the reader in and engaging them throughout the book. At times though the high school drama was a bit much, but again this is a young adult book. Main characters were strong and I look forward to future books.
725230
Good read, strong personal story line.  Liked the development of the characters
2002042
It took the book a while to catch and hold my attention, but I was determined to finish it. I liked these characters a lot. I also liked the depth of the plot. A little mystery and a lot of romance made a good story. Granted, some parts were predictable (Hello, it's romance), but the story wasn't just thrown together like a lot of things I've read lately.
3359216
I like a story with well-drawn characters and clearly defined good guys and bad guys. I also appreciated the lack of foul language in this book and others like it ('he cursed' works for me). I felt that the main characters were likeable and relatable. The soul-searching was prevalent. There were plot twists, action, and tension, so the story drew me in and kept me turning pages. The characters were still in process of resolving their issues at the end, but both Brinna and Jack were well on their way. Their progress was a good lead-in for the next book in the series. It was edited superbly, and I liked the ending.
1942371
I enjoyed this story and really can't wait to get my hands on the others to find out what happens. What's not to like, political intrigue, sex and a strong female protagonist. I usually dislike stories that jump back in forth in time between what happened before and what's happening now but it works in this. London does an excellent job with the dialog and in chapter settings to make sure the reader knows where and when we are so we aren't confused with the plot. Our main character, Caroline, is strong and still feminine without being too cliche. The use of sex is fitting without just being plopped into the story just because.

My main negative is there wasn't enough groundwork on how things got so bad or even what is so bad, but I don't believe that is truly a negative but very good writing that makes the reader scream for more of the story. I would definitely recommend this series. It's a fast paced story with very good characters.
755868
Terrific story. Well drawn characters . I liked the not-too-sure-of-himself sort of flawed main character . J.D.Demers is a good writer and seems to know a bit about human nature .The  people aren't fearless , but they're in a situation and they try to stand by their friends. Ditto what some of the other reviewers said about the originality of the author's invention of the scabs . A  strong and fast-moving storyline that makes me want to read the next  the next book and darn it there isn't one yet!
246607
Good story, charactors you care about.  Good read
3552998
Really enjoyed this story. Some great characters and a fresh look at the genre. While it was not perfect it was a lot better than several I've read in a long time. Very solid book and I look forward to a sequel.
104104
This was my first time reading this author and the first book of the series that I read, even though it is the third book. The story stands alone well, other characters  who belong to,the group are introduced in a logical way and a brief history is given. The group is in danger, but that is an over-arching theme which will likely not be resolved until the end of the series. As for this particular story, I  liked the characters and the idea of a woman wanting to be a physician in the mid-1800''s.  The issues of this couple are resolved in this book, no outliers. The story was well written and had good elements of suspense.  There are graphic sexual scenes,  some violence and mild profanity. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.