This book was incredible, and now I really want to read all the Temeraire novels. The themes of duty, love, corruption, and redemption provide wonderful exchanges of thought, study, and plot to frame the story around. 
 Novik builds on the fairy tale of dangerous woods and unknown horrors that lurk within by adding more magic, a tale of self discovery, and wrapping it all in the themes of epic fantasy. The early sections pluck the hero from obscurity, reveal latent magical talents, and begin honing them. Novik deviates from tradition by allowing Agneiska to find her own methods and is, grudgingly, encouraged to build on them in her own manner. The agency allowed here is on par with that typically reserved for prophesied chosen ones, and then only because they are seen as tools or necessities. Here, the Dragon recognizes her worth and sees the bigger picture of needing a strong ally quickly to fight the Wood. Her continued development in the Tower is well juxtaposed against that which she receives later at the hands of others. There she is seen as more of a pawn just to be used in political machinations. Agneiska is quick to learn from mistakes and not afraid to make them in pursuit of a higher goal. 
 *Possible spoilers ahead* 
 I had suspicions regarding the source of the Wood's corruption, but Novik again went a different route by (view spoiler)[ making it about her live for family and clan instead of just about a lost husband (hide spoiler)]. This was a brilliant twist and aligned well with the themes of equality and empowerment in the rest of the book. Finally, I enjoyed the epilogue chapter. (view spoiler)[ Seeing that life was still messy and corruption still needed to be hunted down helped maintain the flavor and sense of accomplishment built in the climax of the story. Letting all of the corruption fade immediately would have cheapened the victory. (hide spoiler)]