I must admit I had rather high expectations. The first trilogy wove an incredibly rich fantasy store deep into a psychological break down of fear and redemption, never really losing a step in its continuous build-up to a final absolute breakdown that managed to convey victory while still being so steeped in defeat.

The start of the second trilogy, however, is far more reaching. Where it succeeds, it tops anything in the first books. The world is terrifying, the complexity of evil perverting good and stealing the name of virtue is unmatchable, and the protagonist is still as frustratingly enjoyable to read as always. However, much of the book focuses on regret, and without a cast of characters able to match those from the first trilogy, it drags and drags during the last third of the book. Still, I have hope for the remaining story, as the framework has been well-laid, and Donaldson has a way with his writing that continues to draw me in.