I loved it. The language is magical, lyrical, and the descriptions are spectacular. Not just of scenery, but emotions, actions and interactions. It's fresh and vivid, and although I've read other works by the author it all feels very much like it's brand new, and I'm seeing into these strange and wonderful worlds for the very first time all over again. The magic is spine-tingling, and Corin, is, well, as he appears in The Dark Prince, but more so.
There were, of course, numerous occasions where I wanted to hit Corin with a sack of hammers, to knock some sense into him, fool that he is, but there's levity woven through the story, too. The interaction between Corin and Laen is priceless, and Claudette, as young and naive as she is, behaves admirably. She's sweet, but has a steel core, and can cut to the bone with precious few words - she's a quiet girl, so she sees more than others do. As a 'quiet girl' I can definitely identify with that.
Although she's infatuated, she's seen enough to believe that Corin is worth saving. What follows, of course, is a riot of emotions, deceit, understanding and decisions; utterly breathtaking, and heartbreaking all at the same time, and when everyone is on the same page, well, it's like the sun has come out after a long winter. Tentative and hopeful, creeping over mountains and through gulleys, caressing the landscape, and warming it slowly before breaking into glorious, golden rays of brilliance. It's really quite wonderful.