The opening sentence is “I can tell someone when they’re going to die” sets the scene. Selestra, a sixteen year old junior witch has green hair and snake eyes. She is heir to the King who is immortal by eating souls. This is a fast moving and very imaginative story. There are many gruesome parts, violence, death and blood drip from most pages. Selestra has to fight her past, and with Not, an eighteen year old unbeatable soldier, defeat evil and found a new world order. The story is also a love story between these two main characters. The inter-play between them is quick and witty banter. The sub-story is that teenagers can become free to be themselves. Selestra felt that she was a product of what everyone else wanted her to be. Through trials and pain she learns to be true to herself. The pace of the story never slackens, Alexandra Christo has a turbo charged imagination to keep the threats and horrors coming thick and fast. The writing is packed with vital scene setting details, like the Kings earrings made from snake fangs and his throne from skulls. The King rules mercilessly the six isles from his floating castle. This is a great read. The only niggle (and maybe it is just me) is the American spelling that trips me up when I’m reading at speed this very readable story. The cover is excellent, and is so appropriate with snakes and swirling dark green and black.