I saw some grey in Scimina's brother, actually - there were hints that he had lost someone he loved at Scimina's hands and had just given up trying to fight her. He didn't seem so much terrible as a completely broken man to me. Scimina herself is a complete villain, but that didn't bother me so much because like you said there IS plenty of grey in the political system that created her. You can see how she became what she becamse, and while that doesn't make her sympathetic it humanised her for me.

I read your post after finishing the book, and although we felt very differently about it overall I think you have a great point about how the "prettier girls" wording is problematic. I thought Yeine owned up to her feelings but was reluctant/shy to act on them, but still, there are other ways that idea could be worded.