I was not ready for this book!  The characters and their interactions with one another are so complex and intriguing.  The author's description of the setting is incredibly vivid and adds to the overall emotional impact of the story.  

I was not expecting the growth from the main female character.  I wasn't expecting the villainous turn for a certain character.  The interactions between the MMC and FMC were unexpected - I've read plenty of "arranged marriage" stories and am used to those relationships being very stilted and uncomfortable on the page.  This author changed things up significantly by having a very invested MMC who is eager to build a relationship with his wife.  Unfortunately, he was still heavily influenced by the idea that men are superior so many of his efforts went astray.  

Above all, the ending.  I was absolutely not at all prepared for the last few pages of this story.  Once I got over the initial surprise, I realized that it was the only ending that made any sense.  This author has a new fan.