3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, and I read it in one sitting! Couldn't put it down. The writing style has a few flaws, but the memorable characters and fascinating plot make up for it. A few trite "fairy tale" sort of things pop up (King of Thieves, a horse named Moonlight, a sword named Lightning), but I like them anyway. Not exactly original sometimes, but the oldies are the goodies.

I really loved Alanna's character. Her confidence and self-doubt are perfectly balanced. I really connect with her inability to understand the people around her or be able to fathom their motivations. She says weird little things that make people laugh, and she can't understand why they are laughing, b/c in her head it sounded perfectly normal. She kind of lives in her own little place inside her head, and I'm like that too. What a beautifully written, well-rounded character!
I'm so excited to read the rest of this series!

Second time reading:
I think I enjoyed this book more the second time around! I love the characters! I love the story, and the magic, and the exotic settings!