I loved that our main character is the archetype of the rival character in any other book. She is privileged and kind of a bully, judgemental and mean to the underdog in the story. And she gets challenged by the people around her and the experiences she has. She reflects and grows but doesn’t become perfect immediately. It’s a slow process. Such a refreshing viewpoint. 

I also enjoy that the side characters have depth and complexity, mixed motivations, and aren’t always sure who they are or what they want. I’ve rarely seen a book portray the reality of being a young person with strong convictions so accurately. 

Also absolutely loved the world and mythology/magic.