This book, while technically perfect and a highly enjoyable read---fell a bit short of my expectations. I've enjoyed the other books in the series, but I don't know...I can't exactly pinpoint it, but this book just didn't leave me completely satisfied; it just feels like I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I said it was technically perfect, and I meant it. The writing is great, the plot is quick-paced, and action-filled; character development was well-done. It does have its faults, but they are minor, and they did not bother me too much. It just lacked...something. 
 Or maybe I'm just having an off-day. 
 This is a continuation of a series, and you do need to read the previous books. There is a lot going on in this book, guys. I hate to use the cliched phrase "the action never stops," but in the case of this book, it really is true, and it is a lot of fun. Right off the bat, Elisa and company are on the run. There is no explanation of what was going on, we are immediately immersed in the midst of Elisa going in pursuit of the captured Hector. There is no slow moment; they cannot afford to lose any time at all. Back in their country, there might be an imminent civil war, and they are under danger from the Inviernos, so they have to rush rush rush; there is no time to waste. 
 For a good 75% of the book, we are on the move, constantly traveling, through mountains and forests and bad weather, snowstorms, and---the mines of Moria!!!!! I giggled when we came across that scene, because it was so reminiscent of The Fellowship of the Rings, even if it's not that similar. Come on, traveling through terrible weather, and having no other choice but to take an alternate route through the possibly treacherous mines? Nevertheless, that was probably my favorite segment of the book...mostly because I keep drawing mental comparisons. 
 New characters are introduced, but only a few, and they are all relevant. I really think the entire book was well-written, I was never bored, the party's actions and decisions are rational, the plot moved along at an easily comprehensible pace, and I really loved that the character all play a significant role in the events of the book. There are no extraneous characters here. 
 I have one wee complaint about Elisa. In the previous books, she is plagued with self-doubt, and I loved watching her grow. I have always wished that Elisa would become a stronger character. Well, um, I have to kind of eat my words, here, because I felt that in this book, she is a little bit too strong, a little bit too perfect. It seems like such a stupid grievance, but while Elisa still has her moments of doubt, her moments of silliness, they are overcome almost immediately, as she grits her teeth and powers through it. The self-doubt is still there, but it is minute, because of her determination to just get through this. She becomes a little bit too much of a martyr, for my liking. And I KNOW, I KNOW that she has to make all these sacrifices because of who she is...I still kind of miss her weaknesses. 
 What I do love about Elisa is---finally, her acceptance of her own body, her own beauty. 
 "You look beautiful," Alodia says. 
 I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I'm beautiful to the one person who matters." 
 She nods. "Hector's mouth will drop open when he sees you." 
 "I hope so. But I meant me. I'm beautiful to me." 
 The other characters, Belen, Mara, Hector, Storm, all feature promimently in this book as Elisa continues her quest, and they are truly essential to the story. I would venture to say that Hector is the weakest character in terms of character development, and to me, he was altogether forgettable, at times. If not for his status as Elisa's love, I don't think I would remember Hector much at all within this book. I love Mara and Belen's growing relationship, although I did want to bonk Mara on the head sometimes, for all her stubbornness. 
 Of all the characters, I think I fell a little bit in love with Storm in this book...he plays a major role in the events, and his loyalty and devotion (that never crosses the line into love, no love triangle here, not even a hint of it, HALLELUJAH) to Elisa, as well as his own character development made him the most attractive character to me. I do love my haughty, stoic characters, who nurture a warm interior, and Storm is the personification of that. He just needs a good cuddle, really! 
 I could have done without the addition of Mula as a side character in the book. I seriously doubt Elisa and Mara's judgment when they decided to bring her on, and I still seriously doubt their judgment after finishing the book. Given their mission, bringing Mula with them was a decision that felt incredibly unwise. She turned out to be useful, but they didn't know that at the time. It was a decision made from the heart, not the head, and there were too many ways that this choice could have gone wrong and bite them in the ass. A child has no place on a mission of such importance, and could only have brought them down. 
 "Are you the commander?" Mula asks, squatting down near his head. He manages a nod as his eyes are drifting closed. "I'm Mula, but that's just my name for now. Did you know that Elisa is the queen? She has a sparkle stone. She healed me because I'm her best slave. Want to see my feet?" 
 I also found Mula incredibly annoying. 
 I wanted less Mula, and more of another new character, Waterfall. 
 The plot seems too much at times. There were so much going on in this book, that at times, some things felt really rushed. The last part of the book could easily be split into a book of its own; things were glossed over and events just resolved themselves too easily, for the sake of time and space constraints within in the last section of the book. I am glad that this series drew to a satisfying conclusion, but I can't help thinking this book would have been a lot better, split into two. For a book of this quality, I would not mind the wait.