3.75/5 stars? 4 stars? Very iffy on my rating right now. 
 It was a solid start to the series definitely. It was actually very fast-paced. A LOT OF SHIT WENT DOWN. And to think, this is only the first book in the series... Just... Well, damn. I think if Rhodes took a bit more time with it, then it would've been easier to swallow. But the thing is, I still have no idea how vast this world and its magic is yet to say whether or not this pacing was appropriate or not (since at the time that this book was released she was only in contract for a trilogy, not more, but now it's already nearing its 5th book release so who knows). 
 But seeing as these main characters are all relatively on the younger side (I mean compared to that of QOS where they were 19 and above and in this series starting as early at 15) I guess it makes up for all the feelings they felt and how moldable they could be to their environments. 
 And then the killing... I DID NOT EXPECT THAT MUCH BRUTALITY. As well all that angst. I mean, I just came from reading the TOG series and I got this hell of a book. To say I was surprised, is an understatement... Really, I was impressed. 
 Then the characters. I'm really digging all the main characters. They all have these complexities to them and all have experienced so much loss in this first book and I can't wait to see where Rhodes takes them next. I think they were really what intrigued me the most about this book: they all had these dark sides spread wide open to the reader. And the fact that Rhodes managed to do this without making any of the characters sound so pathetic astounds me (and the comparison I'm making here hahahahaha Dorian and Chaol in Heir of Fire).