I didn't really expect anything from this book. And I was still dissapointed.

For me, this is one of the worst books I have read so far and that must mean something.

Here are my issues with the book:
-> the plot is both not really existend and rushed. In the description it is already mentioned, she will kiss and fall in love with another guy. So that would lead you to expecting it to happen in the first 50 pages, especially when it is such a short book. If I am not mistaken, it happens on page 178 (in the german edition). They had this many conversations before: 6 (and pretty much all were very short. And counted all scenes in which both had said something. For really bonding conversations there were a maximum of 3). But okay, people have fallen in love for less...
But then they marry. Yes, they really do. They run away together 100 pages after their kiss. And their marriage is roughly 30 pages after. But here's what: Silas dies on their wedding. They've been married for 10 pages what are like 15 minutes. And have known each other for what feels like a month. And to be honest, it can't be much longer. So 1 month, they marry and he dies. She claims to have loved him and without ever wanting another man at her side. Okay, fine. But then she at least grieves a lot, right? No. Her parents died, the "love-of-her-life" died, her "family died" and after having mentioned two times that she cried everything is normal again. What a ride...

-> the characters:
I don't think they have much personality. My descriptions of what seems like the main characters:

Hollis Brite:
-> Mary Sue
->is said to be ungrateful towards her parents
-> melodramatic
->is said to be rather dumb and knows barely anything about her own country
->everyone, except those who are evil, eventually like and/or admire her

Jameson:
->the king
->gives Hollis a lot of presents
->lets her live in the Queens Chambers, but has not even announced that they would eventually marry
->is a real playboy
->had not one intimate moment with Hollis (still more than Silas)
->sells their oldest child off to another country
->kinda loves Hollis

Delia Grace:
->has a bad reputation
->childhood friend of Hollis
->knows a lot
->jealous of Hollis (wants to be Queen herself)
-> she and the king now have something, after Hollis ran off

Silas Eastoffe:
->has blue eyes
->is a blacksmith
->loves Hollis

So for me, these characters seem so one-dimensional and have nothing to them. Nothing that makes them special or likeable...

Oh, and also Hollis has the magical ability to make everyone like her, even when they seem to hate her.
->Nora seemed to not like her, since they had a berry fight in presence of the KING
->shortly after she works for Hollis and nothing ever happened
->all these noble men
->she talked about streets once and now they support her
-> Queen Valentina was really bitchy the first time they met
->Hollis gives her food and Valentina tells her her bigges secrets and worries (true story)

Also, one issue I have: the Acknowledgements in German are adressed only at the female reader. It literally says: Hey, meine Liebe. This is exclusively female, as the male counterpart would be Lieber. I don't know how it is with the English version but the translators should have done better.

So, all in all: I have nothing good to say about this book. Except the cover, it's beautiful.