I loved this. It was slowed paced for at least the first half but that didn't effect my enjoyment. 

Sylah may have her flaws and issues but I loved her. Seeing her journey and struggle with drug addiction. The strength she has to power through and try help others.
Hassa may actually be my favourite character. I just wanted to hug and protect her at times. I need a novella dedicated to her. 

The training for the trials were interesting to read. Learning about the skills and powers needed to get through each one. 
We spent enough time with each trial to learn more about the world and how they do things. But didn't feel filler at all. 

This story was rich in detail without ever feeling too info dumpy. I never found myself confused or overwhelmed with information.