Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer (3/5). A fun adventure with a YA feel; the politics are shallow, but signposted so. Alyssa engages in great struggles, and convincingly changes by the book’s end. The sequel need is obvious, marring completion.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive #1). 4/5. Three interesting POV in a high fantasy world; Kaladin and Shallan are both young adults, each fighting against a past and expectations. Dalinar is the experienced hand with mature struggles. The sync of storylines means that much like Eye of the World, the pacing at the end is a gallop. The rapid pace of the end makes the previous 900 pages feel a little leisurely/padded, but it’s still strong and appealing. A fascinating world w/ complex morals.