Different enough from a standard fantasy affair that I was always interested in finding out what happened next and hungry for details about how the world works. There’s a wonderful sense of dread from the start that loosens and tightens as it goes, centering on the tension between Csorwe and her mentor.

The least interesting aspect was between her and the people that vie for the mentors attentions, but it made sense for the character arc. It certainly feels like a first novel in a series but also ties up plot threads enough that it’s not just bait.

The world and magic were the most largest draws for me; characters being secondary to that pull. But it’s certainly welcome after going through a lot of standard fantasy lately that just didn’t resonate at all. And other fantasy novels are almost tombs in comparison. Will pick up the next book in this series for sure, I think.