So, somewhere on this book, I saw the blurb that Brent Weeks is a NY Times bestselling author. I'd been told for some time that I needed to read something by this guy, and when a confluence of events happened (like my wife beginning the audiobook... and then seeing the entire trilogy of sale for super cheap at BAM (that's Books-A-Million) I decided to pick them up. 
 Now, I've got a weird relationship with audiobooks. One, I have the same issue with my audible account that I've got with my kindle app: Once I've read (or listened) to the thing, I can't put it on my bookshelf. 
 For some people, that's a meaningless thing. And for some, having the physical artifact around is actually a detriment. They see it as the unfortunate necessity of life, and something to be tossed away as soon as the technology allows. But for someone who has managed to have at least two digital libraries disappear (Sorry, sir, but we don't see you've ever had an account with us. Of course you are more than welcome to *re*purchase all 200 titles that you previously already paid for with us. Is there anything else we can do to help?) 
 So I'm acutely aware that I don't actually own anything that is housed in a cloud, no matter how much money I put down. And I am the sort of person that may want to revisit a thing I read 20 years ago, or much longer ago in the case of comics I was read as kid. 
 I mean, one of those digital libraries I lost I'd only had for about two years before it went kaput. Then again, maybe I just have a sign on my forehead that says 'sucker' that only jerks can read. 
 Moving on.... 
 Two (did you forget I was counting here? I did. Narrators can be tough. The only book I can recall giving a single star to in recent memory was an audiobook where I had major problems with the narrator. I think the story was awful too, but I'm never quite sure that it's one more than the other. Hence my weirdness regarding the whole thing. I have listened to enough novels to know that when done expertly, it can be an amazing experience in its own right. But it changes the nature of reading to me. The same way the most beautiful movie you've ever seen will be ruined by an awful story, or a stunning story can be turned to shite by awful acting... it's too interconnected once you get multiple people involved. 
 But a novel should be judged on its own merits. Not the cadence or voice talent of the person reading it. 
 Now, where was I? I think I'm done counting. This novel is the opening salvo in a trilogy of books that remind me a bit of some of the more popular fantasy stories of the past 20 years or so. A song of Ice and Fire, The Kingkiller Chronicles, maybe the Mistborn books... all mashed up in a single trilogy. There are nation states with godkings maneuvering against one another and the little assassin with a heart of gold that just wants a normal life. 
 Well, the first novel here is pretty darn good. The plot is awesome, the characters are great... this one has it all. 
 I can't really say it's one of my favorites, despite being a very addictive read, mostly because there is a fine line between that deep, gut-wrenching emotion that I really want to rock my world in any story I read, and the cheesy melodrama that makes me roll my eyes. And despite this being VERY excellent overall, on occasion I felt like that razor thin line got crossed a few times and there was a bit of cheese that crept into an otherwise amazing tale. 
 Still, any fan of the genre really should be reading this book. Great stuff.