This could have been 4 stars, and it could have been 2. A good story and idea totally spoiled by excessive physical violence. I know there is frequently violence in fantasy tales, but this was often between the main heroic characters and it got repetitive and tedious. Hero beats up heroine, companions beat up hero, etc, etc, in various combinations. Honestly, the amount of beatings these people took I'm surprised they were still alive, let alone forgiving and loving each other. (Quite why they forgave and loved each other is beyond me.) It didn't make me like the hero or heroine much and at one point I was wondering if I could face finishing the book. The end was a bit better, hence the 3 stars, but I do feel a good idea was spoiled by unsympathetic main characters and unrealistic behaviour.