*Warning: This review DOES contain SPOILERS* 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and I'm excited for the next one to come out and to see what that entails. This book is sort of a blend between fantasy/post-apocalyptic/dystopian world. It's such an interesting world they created especially with the marked and the different abilities. I also really liked the love story between the characters in this book, it was really cute. Usually most YA love stories annoy me because you have two characters who meet and instantly fall in love and then are joined at the hip and would die if you tried to separate their characters but this wasn't like that (at least not yet, I hope they don't go in that direction for the rest of the series) and I couldn't help but root for Nat and Wes to be together. As for characters, maybe this is because they introduced all these characters at once but I had a hard time keeping track of who is who among the crew. There's Farouk, Zedric, Daran, and Shakes and it took me half of the book before I could differentiate each character. I feel like there should have been more depth to these characters and maybe that would have helped me keep track of them better. The first part of the book I kept confusing Farouk and Shakes and Zedric and kept asking myself: which two are brothers? Which one was Wes with at the casino? Which one did he know from his military years? It was just confusing. I liked hearing about Shakes' backstory but I wish we knew more about it and more about the other characters as well. Hopefully as the series goes on we'll find out a lot more about each of the characters. There were also some parts of the book that I didn't get but I'll save that for the spoiler section. The book is pretty predictable but then so are a lot of books. Overall I thought it was a great book and I flew right through it.


**SPOILERS**

So on to the things I didn't get. What was the whole point of the temporary marriage license? I know they said it helps keep disease down, but who's actually going to take the time to go get a temporary license for a one night stand? How would the government even know anyway if someone had a one night stand without having the license? They could find out if they used a hotel maybe, but if someone went to someone's house or apartment how would they know that, unless they have a way to follow every single citizen in the country 24 hours a day, but they don't otherwise they would know the minute someone tried to jump the border and leave. The whole temporary license thing just didn't make sense to me. Another thing I don't get, they say that pure water is scarce and very valuable but they live in a world where everything is frozen and covered in ice. Ice is water in solid form, why couldn't they take the abundance of ice they have and melt it to have water? Also, where are all the scientists? They said there's only a few left but if the world were to change and everything become frozen, that would be a huge scientific mystery and it would seem like it would draw more people to become scientists and try to figure out what's happening to the planet.

I knew from the beginning that Nat was a Draken and I was frustrated during some parts of the book because she didn't know she was a Draken or her true power. When they got captured by the slavers I kept thinking "Nat use your powers! You can kill them with your mind." She caused Daran's hand to catch on fire when he tried to attack her, why couldn't she use her powers on the slavers?! Frustrating.

One thing that I didn't like about the main characters (Nat and Wes) was that they seemed too perfect, which didn't make them feel real. They were both very smart, brave and incredibly gorgeous. They're kind, selfless, and non-judgmental and yes they both have a sad background story but they don't seem to have any flaws. I can't think of any imperfections about them that was mentioned. They were too perfect and I think if we were to see their flaws and shortcomings then they would feel more real and relatable. Though like I mentioned earlier I do like their love story. They start off very playful and flirtatious and their relationship continues to build from there. I love the end when Wes is leaving with the crew and Nat tells him she loves him but she can't go with him. She had to stay to protect the Blue. Like I said before most YA couples become annoying because they become inseparable and cannot function for a moment without the other person beside them but so far Nat and Wes prove to be different from most YA couples in that respect and I hope it stays that way. At one point in the story though, I thought they were going to do the same thing like The Mortal Instruments and reveal that Nat is really Wes' sister Eliza. When Wes was talking about his sister disappearing and not knowing what happened to her and Nat began to realize something, I thought it was going to be that she was Eliza. That would have been horrible and I would have hated it cause I really want Nat and Wes to be together (unlike Clary and Jace who should have just stayed siblings cause their love is just really annoying) but I'm glad it didn't turn out that way.

Last thoughts: I really liked how this book ended. I liked that it was wrapped up nicely and it didn't leave you with a major cliffhanger where you're in agony for the next year waiting to find out what's going to happen. Obviously there's more to come and more that's going to happen but at least it didn't cut off mid-action and leaving you thinking "What?! That can't be it!" I'm really interested to see how the next book turns out, especially since Nat and Wes are now separated. Will the story mainly follow Nat or Wes? Or will it switch evenly between the two? Also I think in the next book we're going to find out that Wes has some sort of power. His twin sister seemed to have a power (I think she was a marked but I can't remember for sure) and when he kissed Nat for the first time he ended up putting a protection spell on her, so in the next book I think we'll find out that he does have powers. ( )

I am thoroughly obsessed with this series. When I first discovered Melissa de la Cruz, I read her Blue Blood series and did not enjoy the writing style at all. I found that series to be slow and boring, so I was reluctant to read this book. But when I got this book as an advanced reader's copy from a book store nearby, I decided I would read it and retry Melissa de la Cruz. And, it was the best decision I've ever made regarding books!

I am obsessed and cannot wait for the next book in this series. This book will leave you begging for more and hanging on to every chapter. I couldn't pry my hands off of the story revolving around Nat and Wes. The two of them are a quirky pair with their strange friends trying to find a far off land by boat. The story moves at a perfect pace and you discover different plot twists in perfect timing. There is barely anything wrong with this book except for the fact that the next book wasn't out when I finished it!

I would suggest this book to anyone who likes YA fiction, a story that keeps you wanting to read or anyone looking for a good mix of action, adventure, romance and thrills.

And on top of it all, I couldn't tell what would happen in the end! I love books where you don't know exactly what is going to happen and you can't guess the ending.

I loved this book! Five out of five stars! Melissa de la Cruz has redeemed herself in my eyes with this amazing book!!!!

I read this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy so some of the book may have been changed, but it was still a magnificent book! ( )

I would give this 3.75 stars. I enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the series. If you want to hear all my thoughts on this book, then stay tuned for my August 2020 Wrap Up Vlog coming soon to my YouTube channel called Completely Melanie. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed the Blue Bloods series so when I saw this book by Melissa de la Cruz I scooped it up and looked forward to it. I knew that I didn't care for books that fall under the dystopian genre but I like to take chances when I see something new written by an author I enjoy. It wasn't bad. But it took me much longer to read than a book this size would normally take. I guess the entire end of the world as we know it is all too real and actually tends to get in my head. When I read something that is real and scares me I tend to take a lot more time processing it and have to cleanse my palate with a fluffy read after I am done. ( )

I recently got this book as an ebook arc from NetGalley

An adventure right from page one, this book was fast paced and engaging from page one. I felt like a kid on their first trip to the aquarium, wide eyed and staring around at every new and exciting detail! From the beautiful and creatively crafted world, to the mysterious twists that urge you to turn the page! I couldn't put this book down! I also really like the way the book is broken into sections and chapters because it was really hard to put this book down and the sections offered a good breaking point for necessities like eating and sleeping.
The characters are interesting, and incredibly likable, and there was just enough mystery to turn up the excitement for book two.
The only issue I had was that it was a little difficult to figure out the world at first, but in the end, piecing it together added to the experience and only made it better.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and dystopian books! ( )