An incredibly compelling book from start to finish.

Gwynne does a fantastic job of displaying an enormous world, showcasing it in all its glory and still giving the reader the feeling that there is so much more to explore. Many books do this at the cost of a lacklustre story or poor character development; this story stands out by sacrificing neither of these. And to top it off, Gwynne does this in less than 500 pages.

There are three viewpoint characters that present very different perspectives on the story being told; one basks in the glory of battle, one has fled battle and seeks solace in a more peaceful life, and the other is trying to avenge a loss. These perspectives intermix beautifully throughout the book, sometimes trading places and always expanding on the simple definitions of the characters I mentioned above, revealing more motivations, desires and complexity to their stories.

The plot itself is well-crafted, moving from intriguing to incredibly compelling very quickly. It slices straight into the heart of the world, revealing more as the plot deepens. The world is huge, beautiful and terrifying. There is a real sense of tension in the pages, the fear and awe of the past, present and future of this world is palpable.

An absolute must-read and I cannot wait for more.