Would actually have given this a 3.5, because I've tried several times over the last few years to read this and couldn't get into it. This time, for whatever reason, I kept going and enjoyed the end, making me want to read the second book. That's why i went up to 4 instead of down to 3. The end makes this book worth it, and begins to show the potential for the series. The second half of this is definitely better than the first.