This book was good, however I was left feeling a little dissatisfied with the ending, not because of anything particularly wrong with it, but more because there's so so much more I want to know about this world and Canavan currently has no more stories for it. I really want Kyralia to encounter Igra, I was a little disappointed after they were introduced in 'The Ambassador's Mission' that nothing more was really made of it, beyond giving a starting point for some changes to some laws that we won't actually get to see take effect.

Spoiler

I really enjoyed watching the complete turnaround for Sonea's feelings towards Regin, however
I would have liked more romantic interaction between them before being told 'oh and she moved in with him' right at the end. I do think it seemed like a natural romance, despite, or perhaps because of, all the existing antagonism between them.

I liked Lorkin and Lilia's threads in this. They seemed to have more action, which felt like something they were lacking a little in the earlier books. My heart broke a little more for Dannyl with each page of his story I read.

Spoiler

I was quite disappointed with Cery's death. For two reasons. Firstly he was pretty much my favourite character in the first trilogy. Secondly it seemed a needless waste which lacked flair and effort. While I appreciate those in fantasy worlds are likely to die of natural causes as well as dramatic ones, I don't really wish to watch it happen to one of my favourite characters. I would rather have it hinted at in a sequel set a long way in the future. But then that's just me.

My only major criticism of this book is that it felt like the overall arc should belong to someone, but it was really hard to tell who, and I think Canavan almost fell back on Sonea out of habit.