But I guess the good things is -with the amount of sheer hatred all readers must develop towards the villains- it will feel a lot satisfying when they do get beaten (if that happens). However, I’m really eager to see what the next book brings because I really like where the story is going.

which is great for the book's pacing - this is a fast, fast read - but it feels like too much was glossed-over and sacrificed to that pacing. Darin has special skills as a blacksmith that make him essential to the survival of his people, the Scholars. If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as the first two books then I think I’ve found a new favourite.I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that things will heat up a little, because I'm dying for some romance.

And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. Granted, the protagonists did escape a rather messy situation last time round, but the chase dragged on for far longer than I wanted it to.But I liked that instead of drowning in guilt, she turned a critical eye against her actions and learned from them. I wondered if I would be able to easily follow the stories of Laia, Elias and Helene after more than a year away from them, but I needn't have worried. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. In fact, however Tahir’s character development is so weak and defective, I don’t think I would have noticed if the personality of any of the characters had underwent any change that didn’t concern who loves who, Laia’s do-goodism or Elias self-centered desire for redemption.