Did anyone else have flashbacks of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief? While plot-wise this book was very different and, yes, setting wise it was different as well, I definitely was getting that sort of vibe. Which in general is a good one. 
 This book is a rare gem among books. Nowadays I can pick up a YA book from off the shelf, read about a third (sometimes less,) and then tell you the ending because they are so predictable. This book still had me guessing until the end. Oh, I had my (correct) suspicions, but I didn't know how it would play out, or if some twist of fate would prove me wrong. Because of this, it was an exciting read for me, and I was really quite invested in trying to get to the end. 
 Sage is a classic ruffian. Arrogant, street-smart, lying, and thieving. And completely awesome (most of the time.)He was likable, clever, and infuriating. That sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn't really, y'know what I mean? 
 The other characters were interestingly portrayed. I'm not going to say that they oozed realness and were astoundingly three dimensional, but they were pretty good. Mott, especially. People had motives. People had actions based on those motives. 
 And so a plot is born. Yay! I think I already touched on that, though. Decent. Exciting. Slightly predictable, but not that predictable. 
 The only other thing to mention was the world. The setting. Sadly, I am yet again disappointed. Carthyan and its neighbors are just that classic fantasy world with kings, and governments, and pirates, and other kings who don't like the first king. The countries have classic fantasy-world sounding names, and the whole world has little to no traits that set it apart from the many other worlds that books exist in. I was hoping for a few things that made this world different, and made it work. Alas, I am still waiting. 
 However, this book was fantastic. I already have its sequel's spot on the library shelf memorized and will be snatching it up first thing on Tuesday when I get to work!