I really wish they would let us rate with half stars, but then we'd probably be ungrateful and start demanding quarter ratings. Either way, I wish to say I'd give this 3.5 stars because I don't want anyone to think it's bad. It was a great story! I always love the characters Brom creates and illustrates and he really is an inspiration to me! Yet I think that I have enjoyed his other works better than this one. I never got seriously involved in any of the characters or got that feeling of magic (be it dark or light), and I love his artwork so much but it seemed to be lacking a little in this compared to his other novels. But still! It was good, very dark, extremely sad at times (that ending, oh my heartstrings!), and a touch of suspense.