*Potential Spoilers* 

This was a really interesting read. Dystopian is not my usual genre and yet I was pulled in by this story from the start. You can definitely see how Reed was inspired by The Hunger Games. I also got Lunar Chronicles -specifically Cinder- vibes because it has a little bit of the Cinderella feel to it. 
I liked all three of the lead characters in this. Inesa is a little sheltered from the reality of her society by choice, but not ignorant. She knows hard work and responsibility. She just doesn’t condone the violence. Her brother, Luka, is probably more of a secondary character but he plays a large role in the story. He is Inesa’s support and strength. Without him, this book would have been MUCH shorter. Melinoë is a tragic character from her upbringing to her ending, but watching her learn how to live was so poignant and bittersweet. 
To me, this book is about how hope perseveres even when it is futile. It’s a little scary how the history of Caerus fits with 21st century America. Reed makes it very easy to imagine how this could be us someday and it’s a chilling thought.

Thank you for the ARC opportunity! All thoughts and opinions are my own.