I'm sorry folks, but please believe me when I say I wish I loved this duology as much as everyone. No one is more frustrated than I am that I can't quickly jump on the love train. But I just don't get it. There were so many times reading this that I wished I was reading something else because I just wasn't invested in the characters or hooked by the plot. Don't get me wrong, this duology has all the workings of a good young adult fantasy. Never at any point did I think these books were bad. It just really wasn't for me. I'll give it this one strong merit though: the payoff of the finale is incredible and made me very emotional. Other than that, I think I'll forget about this duology in a few years' time.