What I liked:
the fast pace
the small village and how closely knit the community was.

What I didn't like:
Chalice is good at everything-if she's supernatural, as is being hinted, I get the super strength and coordination. But why does she have to be beautiful and good at studies too?

I can't tell what time period I'm reading about-modern phrases like going to class and words like "gonna" keep jarring me out of the experience. ( )

http://melissadouthit.com/2012/05/29/drama-surrounding-the-selection/ ( )

This "prequel" could easily have been included in [b:The Raie'Chaelia|11545265|The Raie'Chaelia|Melissa Douthit|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327149500s/11545265.jpg|16484991]. In fact I would recommend to Ms. Douthit that this should be done as there is not really much here. Actually it's more the length of a prologue than anything. Not long enough to be a novella and not short enough for a short story, I would recommend getting this (and [b:The Vanishing, a Prequel to The Raie'Chaelia|12146993|The Vanishing|Melissa Douthit|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327890053s/12146993.jpg|17117509]) before reading the full length novel. ( )

http://melissadouthit.com/2012/05/29/drama-surrounding-the-selection/ ( )