I originally rated this series an 8 and would maintain that had the series just ended when the driving plot device of revenge was resolved. Since the last couple volumes the series' themes bleating about racism constantly has gotten tiresome and there's little to no tension in the story anymore. Everything has become predictable and oh so preachy. I originally waited eagerly for new volumes to come out, and now I've stopped reading it somewhere in the most recent volume. I mean, if you love things that beat the drum over and over about racism and oppression you'll probably like it after the first few volumesand there's still a heart of decent romance beating under the annoying themes so I maintain rating the series "average." It started good but no longer rises above anything else standing beside it.