Burning Glass

Goodreads Synopsis:    Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

My Thoughts:

-    I mostly enjoyed this book. It was good for a debut novel. 

-    I was surprised that the story had a darker tone to it. I liked the ominous feel.

-    I didn't love any of the main characters. I didn't hate them, but I didn't love them. They were just bleh to me. I didn't understand their motives or personalities really. I loved Pia though. Her bright sparkly personality was a highlight of the story.

-    I liked the plot well enough. It kept me interested, and I didn't know what was going to happen next.

-    The whole idea of the auraseer was intriguing. It would be hard to feel everyone's emotions. 

-    I don't think this needed to be a series. This book could stand on its own. I felt like everything wrapped up nicely.