Secrets, intrigue, political and religious drama, violent men who buy what they cannot easily dominate and in the middle of it is Nona. Mark Lawrence honed a tale, that is weaved slowly. The world and the characters are fleshed out giving us an understanding of individual personalities and quirks that eventually play out, forcing little Nona to unleash everything she has held back.

Shannon L. Alder wrote, "Heroes are not made. They are born out of circumstances and rise to the occasion when their spirit can no longer coexist with the hypocrisy of injustice to others." This...this is at the core of Nona's character and it is sad, necessary, and in the end impressive, because this little hero, hurts and fights for friendship.

It is interesting to me that Nona refers to herself as a monster several times throughout book one, but the tale shows the real monsters are grown men and women skewed and twisted by power and money. This is storytelling that walks not runs, until it full out sprints leaving characters and reader breathless. Can't wait to read book two.