It took me a while to get through it (so long!), but I really loved the world and the characters here. There's excellent magic stuff going on, and I love love love how detailed and well drawn things are, from the landscape to the food to the people. 

One teeny tiny issue: This is going to lead into an EPIC series, right? It feels like it will have to. I hate reading series as they're written. I get all impatient, and then I forget things and have to reread. I love rereading, but I like to do it because I'm in the mood to, not because my brain is like a sieve and can only hold so many bits of information at any given time.

DRAT. 

I still think you should read this as soon as you can get your hands on it though. The ending was pretty awesome. Also: I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH SZETH. He was maybe almost my favorite. Okay.