Fantastic world with a slightly muddled plot

This is a really interesting world with some fascinating magical aspects, but the plot was a little bit predictable and sometimes felt a little disjointed. We follow our four main characters as they undertake a journey to acquire the magic necessary to defeat the kingpin of their city. Things I liked: I thought the characters were well drawn and all had believable motives for their actions, which always felt true to character. I loved the world building and expect that the concluding book will explore some areas in more detail. I thought the magic system, with a finite number of magic in existence, very interesting and again, hope this is explored more in book 2. I also enjoyed the quest narrative aspect of the plot and thought the way the crew came to support each other was well done. Things I didn't like: I found the conclusion really predictable and therefore, a little uninspiring. I also thought that the plot got quite muddled at times, with the action jumping around and no indication given for the passing of time. What I would say is that I think this is set up really well for the concluding book, which I will be looking forward to.