It has been a while since I fell into a book as hard as I fell into this one. Wow. I don't even have the proper words to describe it. For a first time author I was INCREDIBLY impressed, and the book hit on so many of my personal key points that all I can do is say give it a read. Highly memorable characters, a richly detailed world, historical points, all of it was just so well done. The book is not "traditional" fantasy, but I would not let that stop you from giving this a read.