DNF - 55%

The quality of this book differed from Book 1 (The Black Company), but I hung in because so many people have recommended the series. A bit of ineloquent writing isn't enough to keep me away from a good story. However, the as the plot repeatedly drifts back to vulnerable girls, the author keeps mentioning increasingly disturbing ideas, but none of the characters find them as horrifying as they should be.

Note: I have absolutely no problem with discussions of sex and sex work. Explicit sex scenes between consenting adult characters will never make me put a book down. However, this book repeatedly had scenes that made me feel uncomfortable, while the characters involved were blissfully unburdened. Is this a book about a band of mercenaries that kill people? Absolutely! Did I have any problem with that? Nope, that's exciting and expected in the genre! Does a book about mercenaries need to include references to

Spoiler

sexualization of girls, references to girls as owned sex-objects, parental-figure rape, and a major plot point involving the mass-rape of women/girls

? Absolutely not! No thanks!!!