The first book in the Riyria Revelations, this book does start slow, but the series is definitely worth reading. The biggest draw of the series are the characters and cozy fantasy setting which are all-consuming and lovable. It takes a few chapters to get fully immersed (which is why I took some points off for the first book), but when you do, it's well worth it. The series does have a decent amount of political intrigue which can get slow if that's not your thing, but I find myself thinking about the characters and setting often when I'm not reading, which in my opinion is the mark of a good book!