2.5 — For grim dark it was nice to see some plot armor finally fall off. Hard to forgive how Gwynne treats Fidele over this series. All in all more entertaining and marginally better written than #3, but still bogged down by corny dialogue and cornier moralizing. Never quite lived up to the promise of #1. End state makes for a great prequel. Liked the attitude he used for the practitioners of a violent and war-based religious society & Machin's choice at the bridge of swords (plot armor aside). Also enjoyed the scene/time jumps within POVs. Action is the strength of these books and he's smart to keep it moving.