Well I liked this book but I didn't love it. The writing was great in some places and pretty bad in others. I really got caught up on his use of the word "things." Pretty non-descriptive word to use... Also the phrase "times being as they were," and other such fluff-word nonsense descriptions. 
 I really enjoyed his writing when he was describing the main characters feelings towards the music he created with his lute. That was incredible! So incite-fully descriptive. It's so difficult to describe music with words, but he does one of the best jobs I've ever read! There were definite highlights in the book, and I enjoyed the captivating story. 
 I felt there was much dragging and way to much insignificant descriptions of things that weren't pertinent to the story that also didn't help you understand more about the character. It didn't really start pulling me in until the last hundred pages or so. 
 I also had qualms with the over use of foul language, under-aged alcohol use and sexual innuendo. I mean... come on... this book was obviously written with the teenager in mind as the main character is 12-16, so why encourage offensive language, alcohol use, and premarital sex (even through encouraging thoughts if not actions). Marriage is also discouraged, albeit it in one minor instance. If the author isn't consciously trying to push a certain agenda, then he's just unwittingly influencing others in degenerate way. Authors should take more personal responsibility for this kind of thing, ESPECIALLY when writing for a young audience. 
 I think it's a pretty decent book and would recommend it to other fantasy goers, perhaps just not as heartily as I might recommend others, and certainly not to a teenage audience.