Bellona is an island of contrasts: the guardian Sun versus the insidious Night, the affluent Dogio versus the downtrodden Basso, the Imperi versus the tradesmen. Veda, a Basso girl who takes care of herself and her grandfather, has been raised to believe that the Sun will always look out for its worshippers, who make sacrifices in exchange for protection. After the Night attacks, Veda's Poppy is doomed to become the next sacrifice to the Sun, and Veda begins to wonder about what is truly right in her world. Are the people of the Night as evil as she's been led to believe? And what about the two boys she's stuck between, imperial soldier Nico, whom she can't have, and secretive Night boy Dorian, whom she shouldn't want? Newcomer Fleck has an atmospheric style, noting little details in every passage. Veda is a scrappy heroine, seemingly forever caught between extremes. While the romance is a bit predictable, the story is engrossing and the book itself is recommended.