And our quartet has come to a close. I still love these as much as I did when I was a preteen, with a new perspective now that I am a grown woman. I love who Alanna has become - she is multi faceted and flawed and principled and passionate. 

The pacing of this book is a bit odd again though I do put that on her publisher, as mentioned in the Authors Notes. Again we’re set with a quest and then BOOM plot shift (NOT a twist, just a straight up turn in direction) once it is accomplished. The climaxes of both are again delivered well, though the first half of this book could have been described a bit more. 

Alanna’s relationship with Liam was realistic and infuriating (on purpose narratively) and I just wish that time was spent on Thayet and Buri. The Bazhir were so fleshed out and this part of the world wasn’t. I’m just glad Alanna finally got some girl friends.

I keep cycling back to the gentle care towards different types of feminine (which is explored even further in the other Tortall quartets) exhibited in the FCs of the series. 

We also have straight up BAD villains who aren’t redeemable, some whose motivations aren’t clear (frustratingly to both the MC and reader) and multiple men doomed to hubris. 

I love these books. Full stop. And I’m charmed to see that I’m a little bit Alanna after all.

*Also, I’m convinced the negative reviewers who call this series “whiney” have never reflected on their own youth. There are valid critiques for this book but hating the earnest faults, self expression, and self discovery that are realistic is missing the point of a COMING OF AGE STORY. And spoiler alert, we never stop maturing ourselves so how can we expect a character to have a clean straight path?*