God that took forever. Okay so here's the thing. I've gotten so used to at least having heard of the characters in previous books I was thrown off by these two unknowns. Add in the fact that even after reading comments here about how Thorn is in it I could not for the life of me remember who Thorn was. Still not sure so I'll have to go back and reread or in the case of the last Nick book, read for the first time. I say all this to say that this book didn't really pick up for me until halfway through. I was confused 90% of the time between characters I don't know but probably should, the mixing of different cultural mythologies some of which I know nothing about, the fact that part of the plot included characters with multiple identities and some characters lying and hiding who they were form others. I honestly didn't hate this book but I'm not sure how good it was. I'm just going to have to come back and read this one again. I'm left with way too many questions about pretty much everything. I want to say more but I feel unqualified even though I literally finished the book an hour ago.

Wow, I had not realized that its been five years since the last Merry book. I did plan on rereading the older books before getting and reading this one but that never happened and I'll admit that I was lost on a few plot points that I think happened in the past. But this was boring for the most part.

Honestly, at the end of this book I felt like I had only read a summary or a preview of the actual book. Nothing much happens. Well not really, a major character dies, babies get born, Andais starts to make some personality changes and the King loses his crown but I feel like this was all glossed over. The guys are not so interesting and I am still scratching my head over how each baby has multiple biological fathers. Granted that last has not been proven yet but I just want it explained to me. I understand this is fiction and can suspend reality but come on.

I read another review that said the entire book took place in a week's time. But nothing really happened. This felt like a prologue. Hopefully, the next book will be better. There were some promising plot lines that were started but left dangling here. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait at least two years since it seems LKH is already working on the next Anita book. It wasn't all bad (or even mostly to me) its just that the good parts were left unfinished if you will, leaving the reader feeling like you didn't get much.

This was good. I guess it's YA which I didn't get from the summary. I like the characters and the world. I kept getting stuck on Chaol's age though. he just acts older than 22 to me. I can't wait to go on to the next one but it will have to wait.

That was fucking awesome. A little sad that all the main characters have been separate in this book but they each had their own journeys to take. We met lots of new characters, all of whom were equally as awesome as our old faves. A few mysteries were cleared up but tons of new ones came to replace them. Honestly, this doesn't read like a YA book, thankfully. This is epic world-building and character development at its best. Its exciting and and not at all heavy with unnecessary prose. Sarah J. Mass may be my favorite new author. I cannot wait to read what happens next.

The first half was kind of meh, but the second half.... it was like one huge reveal after another. I honestly only have one problem with this series. Chaol's age. He's supposed to be 22/23 and the Captain of the Guard. His whole timeline is weird in my head but aside from that I find it hard to believe that the King decided this young guy, great as he is was better for the job than any older, more experienced guard. And they do exist, a few were mentioned in this book unlike the first book. And none of these more experienced guards have issues or resentment towards this manchild (essentially) usurping what should rightfully be their position? Now, it could be a thing of the King choosing someone young that he can easily hide secrets from and/or manipulate and everyone else being too afraid of him to question his decision but who knows.

Anyway, can't wait to read the next book, its bound to be interesting since the settings will now change and the main characters will probably be apart for a long time.