I wasn't expecting much from this book. Chaol Westfall is not one of my favourite characters, but I was expecting to see Yrene Towers again from the moment I realized that Chaol is heading towards Torre Cesme. 
 After the incident at the Glass Castle, Chaol was badly hurt. His agenda for Torre Cesme was not only to see if the legendary healers of Torre Cesme could heal him but also meet the Royal family there as the hand to the King. From the moment Chaol and Nesryn meet the Royal family, they knew that they had their hands full when it came to convincing the Southern Empire to join in the war. But there is something evil lurking there... whether it was awakened by Chaol and Nesryn's arrival or something else entirely remains to be discovered. 
 I expected quite a bit of politics in this book as it seemed to me that the Southern Continent, which is yet to be touched by Erawan, is so far away from the heart of all the action that they would need some convincing so as to what was really happening out in the world. Arghun, the eldest Prince, also known as the Prince of Spies already has some information on the happenings in Adarlan and Terrasen. And as news trickles in, the group - including Chaol, struggle to keep up to what is true and what is not. 
 The book introduces quite a few new characters - Arghun, Sartaq, Hasar and Kashin among them. I took a liking towards Kashin at first who seemed more welcoming of the party from Adarlan than the others. But it was Sartaq who slowly built up a place of his own. I quite like the character of Hasar - who can be manipulative at times. But being one of the heirs, she has to be strong and manipulative if she wants to live in the long run. Nesryn got her fair share in the spotlight too. But it was Yrene who won my heart in this book. She is such a strong girl. It may not have been very apparent in The Assassin and the Healer, but she has some strength and light in her that makes her very likeable. And her experience with Celaena Sardothien only made her stronger. 
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