I really enjoyed this. I will admit, it took me a while to get into, but after maybe 40 pages or so, without realising it, I was engrossed! One of the things I enjoyed about this was that even though it was a good size book, there weren't needless characters and descriptions of every tree and cloud. It was pure storyline and character development. Honestly, I can't wait for poor Alar to have a nice long nap and a good meal, the poor guy never stopped! Alar finds himself as a bit of inadvertent leader of a resistance group to the imperial regime. Engaging in one seemingly impossible mission after another, he accidentally discovers he has a gift, but for all the ways it can help him, the more ways it can put him in danger. Great story of self discovery, heroism and a fast moving plot. Slow burn, maybe, but it definitely makes up for that. 4.5 stars