4 1/2*
I think my experience with this book suffered a little from high hopes. Everything I heard made me think this was going to be epic, and it was! It just wasn't the most epic. It is a fantastic story that kept me reading until I'd be tired the next day. It's we'll written and enthralling. It was just missing a little something. Something I think I might find as the story progresses. I'm starting the sequel tonight to keep up the story line. I only occasionally do that. I'm even putting off Iron Gold for it. Gasp!!