Shawn Braden

What a phenomenal book. Each is progressively more incredible than the last. I really love how he introduces characters, plot devices, and conflict. I love how natural it feels. I love how easy it is to love. I've already started the next one.

This was probably the best book of the first three. It was pretty amazing. However, I stopped reading the third book because it just felt so... slow. I can't really say why. It felt like all the progress we made was reset and everything was starting over and I just didn't have the patience to continue reading. I will come back to this series from the beginning, but for now... this book is a 5 star.

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.