As always these books are amazingly good reads it is unique I can think of very few books like it there is great characters and an amazingly well written story. The characters as always are great there are a few changes from previous books for one Hal is a little angrier but still in a more calm way. The new character added Olaf whom is Stig's father that abandoned him and his mother after stealing from his own brotherband he is selfish in many ways Stig just had to find this out for himself. The plot was interesting it starts with the competition for Maktig that Stig is competing in it then goes to Olaf Stig's father showing up with a quest to save a young Emperor they agree to this because Stig wants to get to know his father so they go on the quest save the boy and Stig finds out just the kind of man his father is they then leave to go back looking forward to reading more soon.