Finnikin of the Rock is an enjoyable, if long, read. 
 What stood out most to me was the characters. Finnikin is bright, noble, and brave, and his relationship with almost every character in this novel is both intricate and interesting. Finnikin's goal is to heal his war-torn land of Lumatere, and often I thought he acted as a thread connecting each person in his growing company together. He also has a very close relationship with his father, Trevanion - something I haven't seen often in YA or fantasy. I think I enjoyed that element most. 
 Finnikin's antagonist throughout is Evanjalin. In many ways, she's similar to him: intelligent, passionate about Lumatere, and courageous. But she's also very different, and often acts as a catalyst for much of the book's plot points. I went back and forth about liking her for most of the book, because at times it seems like she's foiling Finnikin in the most extreme ways possible. But even though her methods are unconventional, her intentions are good. She knows how to care for people, and also push them to achieve goals they didn't think possible. And I really admire that about her. Evanjalin is a great example of a strong character, because she knows what she wants, and she isn't afraid to do anything to get it. 
 I'll be honest - after about 60%, this book became very slow for me. There is a lot of summary, a lot of traveling, and a lot of info-dumping. I found myself skipping sections just to find the plot, and more than anything, I craved the interactions between the characters. I just didn't think there was enough of that, which is a shame. This book has fiery characters that jump off of the page, but when their actions are buried in pages of exposition, it makes them seem less impactful. 
 All in all, I just wish there could have been a more concrete setting, a tighter focus on plot and characters, and more of a spotlight on Finnikin and Evanjalin, who truly make this book special.