I really wanted to enjoy this book, as there's a huge lack of modern fantasy in my life. Unfortunately I really couldn't get into it. I felt the beginning was far too brief and emotionless at the death of the girls' parents, jumping straight to ten years later. I expected a magical story, instead it felt more like a book about a bullied teen who wanted to show the bullies she's better than them (don't get me wrong - in itself that's great, but I wanted magic!) :(