I received a digital arc from the publishers/author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nona Grey is only eight years old but she's facing the hangman's noose. Angry but fierce, Nona is ready to fight when she is saved by Abbess Glass and brought to a convent where young girls are trained for years to be expert mystics, spirit walkers and fighters. Nona has a destiny and she's about to learn how to walk it.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Lawrence's writing and loved his two previous protagonists from his other trilogies - Prince/King Jorg and Prince Jalan. However I was so, so excited and intrigued to follow his first main female lead who seems to have all of Jorg's fierceness, Jalan's talent and something all of her own. The world of Abeth and the Corridor was just as wide and detailed as I would expect from Lawrence with tribes and lands far off and near as well as a ruthless emperor with many enemies, some of whom share his blood.

I think the first half of this book would be a 5 star for me while the second half slipped into a 4 star. I loved learning about Nona and who she was (not sure if it was just me, but at times she came across a bit on the autistic spectrum in the way she found it difficult to connect to and understand people). Her classes and what they did in them I loved of course - a bit of fighting and a bit of magic is just a recipe for a great book in my opinion!!

This book only reached up till Nona being 10/11 so I really can't wait to see what happens as she gets older as already so much has happened to her. I liked the glimpses we got into the future though I did guess the end as I thought it was too shocking and easy. I think I felt slightly underwhelmed by the ending but it left me wanting more all the same so job done.