While I was reading this book I was quite happily surprised. There was no insta-love and the characters seem to have some depth to them. However, after finishing the book I found that I really wasnt sure whether I liked it or not.
The main character, Alina, is alright. She isn't too whiney or arrogant. She does have flaws. Mostly her preoccupation with fitting in. Which becomes a little trying during her insistence that she is totally normal and doesn't have any special powers (I mean, come on, they saw light glowing from her). However with her backstory having been an orphan and comparing herself to her best friend Mal who is charming and good at everything you can see the flaws are realistic.
Mal is an okay character though I dont feel he has as much depth. We see him only in relation to Alina. He is caring and completely devoted to her, but what else? All I really know about him is that he is an orphan, he's naturally athletic and good at most things, and he is in love with Alina.
I actually like the Darkling much better. There seem to be things going on behind his smile, and behind the cruelty. I always wonder what he is really thinking behind what he says and does. I like a bit of unpredictability to a character.
My main problem with the book is a feeling of futility to the characters actions. Why does the darkling really need the sun summoner? He has the power to extend the fold without her. He just needs her so he can travel back and forth to the west and the coastline? Is his plan to put her on every ship sent across? She can make the creatures of the fold leave where she shines her light but she cant eradicate them from the fold. And if she did then the fold would be nothing but darkness that anyone could traverse. Sigh.
I really feel like this book could have been better. The premise is interesting and the world building is unique. While we are in a medieval type world, rather than being european the book shows Russian influence. I just would have liked to feel more urgency and importance to the story rather than nagging confusion and doubts.
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