I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. Though like everyone else writes the names are completely unpronounceable. The book is definitely worth it. Something to mention is that this book is better than the Obsidian Mountain Trilogy. This one is more grown up and complex, while the other trilogy is 10-14 year old level of development.
Can't wait for the next one. ( )

Heavy, pretentious, and ponderous this book takes it's fate driven heroine though a century though it feels like 3. Long complicated names mean the reader has to figure out who each character is again every scene and none of the characters is given a chance to have any fun after the first few chapters. Oh, and just adding -riel or -ion or -sar to 3 or four incompatible syllables doesn't really make a name worthy of a Tolkien Elf.
If Mercedes Lackey actually read this book I'd be surprised. It certainly doesn't read like anything else she's written or collaborated on. ( )

I can't wait to read this. I received my copy some months ago, but I hadn't had the time to read it before.

On the one hand, this is totally competent generic fantasy - tolerable writing, plausible military action, well-established worldbuilding, and elves who are actually assholes for once.

On the other, it is many many pages of mostly-repetitive battles between characters with unpronounceable names and no real closure, as it's the first book in the series. The first third isn't bad, as it's all establishing plot and worldbuilding, but the main character never really develops beyond Gloomy Destined Hero, and while the side characters are charming, they're fairly flat.

It's certainly readable enough, once you accept that you're never going to be able to distinguish Rithdeliel of Oronoviel from Rondithiel Lightbrother, or encompass the ridiculousness that is the Lost City, Celephrandullias-Tildorangelor. (To the authors' credit, they are effusive in their praise of their copyeditors in the Acknowledgements.) But it's a bit of a slog and kind of goes nowhere without the sequel ready to hand. ( )

I liked it a lot and am looking forward to the next book. ( )