Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. 
 Plot progression - loved the story and the twists 
 Character growth 
 Great pacing (sometimes fantasy books get a little heavy in description, but this one didn't suffer that at all) 
 The only negative is that I don't really understand (view spoiler)[why Chaol, who is supposedly good and honourable, would work as the King's Captain of the Guard? It's not exactly a secret that the King is a tyrant, and in Chaol's position, you would think he would see the very worst of what the King has done. So why did he work so hard to progress to that position? (hide spoiler)]