I read this book hoping for the best. The premise really interested me and I was hopeful for another great YA fantasy. Unfortunately I was left disappointed.
Set in Ireland and beginning on St Peter's Day, Wren is chased by the Wrenboys; an annual occurance. What the Wrenboys don't know is that Wren is an Auger, An enemy of their own tribe, the Judges.
Leading the group of boys is Tarc, the golden boy of the Judges, and when Wren is sent by her family undercover to the Judges' headquarters, the Harkness Foundation, she is instantly drawn to him.
The backstory of the war between the Augers and the Judges has so much potential but is much too unexplored. We learn too many little snippets of their lives throughout the story and not enough details. The pace lacks and it becomes boring. But what infuriated me the most is the lack of answers at the conclusion. So much so I expected there to be a sequel on the horizon.
What happened to Wren's mother? Is she really seeing her? Is she alive? Or is it all in Wren's head? What happens once Wren joins the Judges? Is there a war, or do her family just give up? Come on Ms Watson, you can't just leave us hanging like that.
I think I am disappointed more because this had the potential to be fantastic. If there was a sequel to answer the questions that picked up the pace and gavc us a little more action, I might be willing to forgive the negatives I found in this book. Like I said, I was interested in the backstory and eager for questions. It just left me wanting more, but not in a happy excited way, in an infuriated, throw-the-book-across-the-room way.
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