Shawn Braden

Listen, this book was 5 stars and every bit as good as its predecessor. Then I get to the middle of the book where the protagonists go to place you know you won't enjoy reading about. I'm 28 and I still remember the feeling of dread and loathing associated with under-water levels and caves in video games (looking at you Sonic and Pokémon), and that's the exact same feeling I got when the author PAUSED the main narrative to introduce a side mission. I can't find the motivation to pick it back up. I will eventually, but for now it gets a 3 star review for the perfect first half of a book.

EDIT: it's still a 5 star book, and it's only slows down for FOUR CHAPTER CYCLES... ughh. But it's all worth it once the side quest is fully underway.

This book was very quirky and very hard to read at first. The goofy, militaristic names and the almost comical approach to magic almost had me putting the book down before it began.

However, i'm really glad i stuck it out. After the first few chapters you really start to care for and appreciate the characters. After that, you're hooked! I read all 10 books, 4 omnibuses, in about a month. I couldn't put them down.

The magic is both interesting and subdued. Magic is an ever-looming threat and also a very rare thing at the same time. You almost always have a sense that something could go very wrong and sometimes things do. The character arcs are VERY amazing, the main antagonist is amazing, the subsequent threats in each book never feel forced, and the books are just overall a good solid read. If you're looking for an interesting, unique world builder with great characters, interesting duels, death, strategy and tactics, a little military life, and one of the most interesting assassin concepts i've ever read in my life... then this is the book for you.