Highly atmospheric, one of those books where the weather is almost its own character! This book has a touch of everything, gothic atmosphere, political maneuvering, romance. Also sea monsters/dinosaurs!! 

The magic system is incredibly interesting, not completely unique but the addition of eugenics spun it in an interesting direction (lets be real if magic was used to run our industry/business/society - humans would definitely be breeding for certain abilities!). This book hints at political upheaval, oppressive and over-reaching government but doesn't ever directly interact with it (I assume this will be the focus of the next 2 books). Arden as a character I like, she's fairy street-savvy and down to earth, but through he whole book gets vaguely annoying as she mourns a break up and contemplates her rather precarious career situation. It's pretty obvious from the sheer number of times that Riven=evil is mentioned that he won't actually be a monster.    

I was so curious about the wider world and its history and you get a very limited view/explanation but I think this is planned to be a trilogy? It does make it difficult I think to fully appreciate the consequences of the main characters actions. I also would have highly appreciated a map! This is why its a 4 star not a 5 star book for me