This book is another good step along the story arc, but what keeps me from rating it higher is the author's version of philosophy that permeates the series and pulls me away from the story.

His philosophy seems to mingle religion and his personal views and sentiments. This philosophy doesn't seem to be presented as a fantasy philosophy, but as a real philosophy. This may be what is done in most books, but it feels far from reality, yet presented as truth. I can't reconcile it.


What's more, there are what could be considered homages to events in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. To me, these events are important and have emotional meaning. In my mind it it dishonors the events to mirror them in this fantasy world with the author's mingled philosophy.

Yet, what keeps me reading the series is the author's amazing gift of creating characters that seem to live in my mind and compel me to know them more.