I've been a fan of Juliet Marillier since I read Daughter of the Forest a long time ago. This book showcases her talents writing about war and politics and certain dark rituals and difficult tests. She covers them tactfully and without unnecessary details. The MCs are fasinating and although at times seem a bit too perfect, that's part of the fairy-tale charm of her books.Overall, this is not my favorite of her books, or even my favorite of this series, but it is a good read and I highly recommend it if only to set up the rest of the series which only gets better. Faolan's book is the best!