I've heard a lot of praise for this series, and that made me pick it up. I must admit, the book excels in its worldbuilding and magic system in a way I've rarely come across. Yes, there's some info-dumping here and there, but it's all integral to understanding the plot. I had great fun in unpacking the various dimensions of the world and its magic.

Now, the characters. Gavin is almost Avatar-like, but he has physical limitations and is human enough for certain other characters to treat him like one. Kip is a well-realized teenager and behaves his age, which is refreshing. Liv and Karris are fine. They're fierce, independent, and skilled in magic as the plot needs them to be, but beyond that, nothing much worth writing home about.

I'd peg this book's strong suit as the world and magic, which are reasons why I picked it up. I hope we get to see better character work in the sequels.