(Audible version)
I liked it, the premise is still good.
However, the Gavin storyline felt contrived, as if Brent Weeks' publisher told him to extend the series to 5 books, and the thought, hey, let's make all this a bit more complicated and retcon things happening in the first book.
This book made it very clear what will probably happen in the fifth book.
Kip's storyline with his wife... well... I'm not squeamish about a tasteful bit of sex in a book. But this was ridiculous. I applaud Brent for bringing the problem of vaginism into the fantasy world, really I do. That's very laudable. It's just that it was done in a terrible, once again contrived, way. With way too much sex (or lack thereoff).
I don't know. The first two books of this series were brilliant. The third was a little worse, but not much. But the fourth... I don't know. It was an entertaining read, and I like Kip and Gavin, but if I am to look critically at the book, Brent really dropped the ball here. I hope he can get his shit together for the last book.