Three and a half stars. 
 I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started this, but it certainly wasn't what I started reading. I often get Brent Weeks and Peter Brett mixed up and was most likely thinking I was starting yet another assassin book. But Warded Man is a whole different story. 
 To be honest with you, the first third of this book is kind of lame. I know its world building, character development requirements, but it is all so freaking nice. Everything just works out damm fine, nice and dandy. The bad guys get their come uppance the good guys get the things they wanted. Reading it made me feel like I was reading a average YA book. So at this stage I am not impressed much, but, I am reading it on a plane and in a hotel at night, so it's nice light reading with a few eye rolls. 
 In the second third of the book, the story starts to develop, the characters start to grow and you start to get an inkling of the bigger picture. It is still light and breezy and things work out a little bit too well from the main characters (that is probably my cynical side after reading books where everyone ends up with some kind grief), but you can really see each of the characters strengths and an obvious convergence of these players. At this stage the world building really starts to kick in. Brett does a good job of developing the scene and the action scenes, whilst play out the same each time, do offer excitement and keeps you interested. 
 The final third of the book, well, that just hooks you in and makes you purchase book two. This last third had my complete attention and I really started to enjoy the story and began to think about where it all could be heading. The characters interact with each other well and you sense a much bigger story hiding in the background. The last third almost drags this into four star territory, but the weak beginning was just holding that back. 
 But I leave you with this. I immediately purchased book two and am looking forward to sitting down and continuing the story.