I did it. Finished the second half of this in a day. With an hour to spare before the library takes it back. Anyway, the first 300+ pages of this was a slog. Then things got back to the pacing I was used to from the previous two books. I liked this. A lot. And I'm glad I finished it. This is true, traditional epic/high fantasy. It didn't end how I was expecting. Things all got tied up, maybe a bit too nicely. I liked it. A lot. I know I'm repeating myself. Do not like Starling at all though.