I am AMAZED that so many of my favorite reviewers gave this book such bad reviews. I am just baffled, I thought this book was wonderful, fantastic, beautiful and horrific. I've been reading (and putting down) so many "popcorn"-fantasy books (by popcorn I mean good and fun but neither satisfying or edifying. Also quick to stale then unpalatable), this book was a welcome relief.
I love the high-fantasy-dystopia set-up (the world somewhat reminded me of Garth Nix's [b:Sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293655399s/518848.jpg|3312237]). Oh, and Moria!!! She reminded me of the main character Senneth in Sharon Shinn's [b:Mystic and Rider|97967|Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses, #1)|Sharon Shinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388338711s/97967.jpg|94425].
To be fair, one of the main complaints, that the book was slow really didn't apply to me, I LOVE a slow pace especially with fantasy because I love to try to figure out what is going with the characters. Also the plot was a little messy, but so is life and I'm getting a little tired of everything coming together in books like a Shakespearian Comedy.
This book is very dark, dark, dark... And at times (at least for me), frightening.
Loved it.