Damn good, stay- up- all- night- reading worthy, better than most fantasy and as exciting and engrossing as the best epics. I loved this book, even though there are a limited number of empowered females and I am hard pressed to say how it is different from other fantasy epics- while it does not have dragons, there is plenty of intrigue, and knights, magi , torturers idiot monarchs and troubled warriors are not new.... What makes it stand out is the fascinating and complex characters, the vivid, excellent writing and nuanced, complex connection between the characters themselves and the threats facing them. These threats are vague, and manifold, and much seems unresolved, with a cliffhanger ending. But it is a damn good author that can make you like a sadist and a guy who beats up a woman, and a woman who spits on everyone and tries to kill them, and then lets not forget the vain, self-affected snob who stole my heart is well. I put this book in the top 10 or 15 fantasy books I have read, ever.