I think this book was the weakest of the trilogy. The plot twists were easy to see coming from the beginning of the book. I knew immediately what was a trick by the author and what was a trick by Jaron. Still, it was an enjoyable ride, and I'm not in the target audience and more widely read than most, so what twists were obvious to me might still be surprising to young teens reading this book. By the end of book three, I've just figured out this author's style.

I thought everything ended a little too perfectly. This book is about war. The idea that everything will turn out okay if you're just clever enough is a little too childish, even for the target audience. Jaron did have to learn some lessons over the course of this book, but this idea won't leave the reader learning as much as I would have hoped.

I did like the book, and I'm glad I've finished it. I look forward to reading some historical fiction by this author.