This would have been an easy 5 stars if I hadn't still felt just a little lost and unsure at the end of all of it. I felt like I never quite got my footing in this one, in terms of the magic rules and the Hierarchy in general. And honestly, I think it's a me problem, because I'm not typically a fantasy reader and I don't always have the patience to figure it out. BUT. The plot, the characters, the action? *chef's kiss* I can't wait for the second book.