Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars 
 This book was not what I expected at all. I was so excited to read this book for the plot and while the book in actuality wasn't bad, I had a lot of expectations going into it and there's quite a few things I wish would have happened differently. While this book is definitely a slow building story and you have to have a good amount of patientence before you get to the pay off, I did enjoy reading it and will continue with the sequel. 
 This was definitely a unique book. The story takes place in a matriarchal society where every generation, a set of triplett queens is born, each posessing a different type of magic--the ability to poison, the ability to control elements, or the ability to control animals and nature. Each queen is then sent to live with others of their gift until they turn sixteen years old, when they then fight to the death to determine who will be the one true queen. I was really happy that we got to see from each of the queens perspectives in this book, but I also thought that we got too many different perspectives from side characters. It was overwhelming and confusing at times and I would have prefered it to just have been the three queens. I also went into this thinking that we were actually going to get to see the fight, but majority of the book takes place before they turn sixteen. I thought it made the book a little boring and slower but knowing where the book leaves off and having all of the character and world development discussed in this book, I think the second book has been set up to be pretty amazing.