There was lots I really enjoyed about this first installment. The expanse is exciting - it feels like this one is set building for a huge epic story. I really find it quite satisfying to be bombarded with lots of characters and places early on and slowly figuring out how they all connect and plotting where they are on a map. There were some great characters introduced in this one.

I found the prose quite clunky; speech was sometimes quite stilted. The fighting/battle scenes were really well described though and I found them easy to visualise which isn't something I can normally do.

I found the magic a little wishy-washy and too convenient at times - it didn't always feel like the magic has a fully thought out system and that it is used too often as a plot device.

All in all though, I lapped this up - the plotting was fast and fun, the short chapters and switching POVS kept me highly engaged for the whole thing. I'm really looking forward to getting on with number 2 and seeing how Philip's writing skills improve. There's a great story to be told here.