Favorite character in the book is Kale. Writing that sentence reminded me of how the audiobook pronounced book, I liked that as well. Kale somehow gets himself in many different scenarios other than where he would actually like to be. As the fourth son of the king doing things at his own discretion does not always, if ever, bode well. You feel sympathetic towards him but then remember he is a prince so boohoo. His progress when the king sends him off is always incredible. No one thinks he can do anything useful but he surprises them all. I was surprised when we were told he did something his elder brother and the king could not. I wonder if his two close acquaintances he met will ever cross paths, but then again the latter one was a spy.

Ruka started from the bottom and now he is getting there. His storyline is much darker. He starts in the cold south and quickly is alone. He eats anything to survive, but he manages well. He believes people are corrupt and with how people have treated him I cannot blame him. Ruka you want to be sympathetic due to his past but he is merciless, he needs to chill. Throughout the book he does some ridiculous acts and his inner self thoughts provide him reason as to why he did it. Instead of an eye for an eye he is more like an eye for your whole family less the women.

At the introduction of Dala’s character a through crossed my mind, “I know where that deer came from”. Her efforts as training as a priestess were really enjoyable to see how useful she can be with her position. I believe every opportunity Dala will use her position to try to climb to the top, wherever her top is. At the later interactions I did think she may bite off too much to chew.

From how the book has developed so far I think Kale is going to be the hero arc and Ruka will be the anti-hero. I think Dala and Ruka will get married despite what I know through the epilogue. The ending I cannot believe how that happened so easily. Definitely excited for the second book. 5/5 rating.