This is a five star read for real . . . Yes. There are cruel and vicious characters in this book. But neither the protagonist nor the author surrenders the story to them. There is deliberate cruelty, and the cold cruelty that occurs when the ruling class has no love for the folk who feed it. There is betrayal of trust, and there is personal sacrifice for the greater good. There is also a display of fairness as even the darkest characters are revealed as multi-faceted humans. That's not an easy thing to pull off. So, if you love court intrigue, a protagonist who is believably tough in the face of steep challenges, if you love unexpected magic, an unusual magic system, and imagery that makes you smile at the thought of being able to see that, well, here is your book! Recommended without reservation
