This was a bit of a mixed experience for me, but one I’m ultimately glad I read.

Darrow worked well as a protagonist, what stood out most was how clearly he felt like a teenager trying to be something more despite the narrative trying to normalise children as adults. There’s this constant tension between the image he wants to project and the reality of who he is, and I actually really appreciated the moments where that mask slipped and you saw the 16year old underneath. It made him feel more human in a world that’s otherwise very heightened.

Sevro completely stole the show for me. Easily my favourite character, and the one who felt the most vivid and unpredictable. I’m genuinely more invested in seeing where his story goes than almost anything else, and I really hope he remains a major presence in the series. I’m also curious to see how the Sons of Ares develop further, as they feel like they could become a much more complex and morally interesting part of the story.

The pacing was a bit uneven. The opening didn’t confuse me, but it did drag and felt quite predictable at times. Once the story shifted into the Institute, though, it became far more engaging, much faster, more action driven, and generally harder to put down.

In terms of tone and themes, I thought it struck a good balance. The darker elements didn’t feel overdone, and the exploration of class, power, and control was interesting, especially where it starts to feel a little too close to real world parallels. That underlying commentary gave the story more weight than just its surface level action.

That said, the comparisons to The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies are definitely fair, and I could also clearly see the influence of Greek and Roman mythology woven throughout. It didn’t bother me, but it did make parts of the book feel slightly familiar rather than entirely its own thing.

My biggest sticking point was believability. I found it difficult to fully buy into the idea that a group of 16year-olds (even enhanced ones), could consistently outthink and overpower adults who are supposed to be equally, if not more, capable. It pulled me out of the story at times and made some of the victories feel less convincing than they were probably meant to.

Overall, I enjoyed it, particularly in the second half, and I’m intrigued enough by the characters and the wider world to continue with the series, even if I still have a few reservations.