So the first impression was the cover and I have to admit I did not like the design of the cover at all. It looked a bit "cheap" to me to be honest. I am not a big reader of fantasy although I absolutely love the Harry Potter series and read it many many many times at different points of my life. I have also read other fantasy series and enjoyed them but it is not a genre I usually pick unless it comes on a recommendation and I feel I would enjoy it. I felt the extract was pretty well written and fairly original but somehow it did not draw me in. Not sure whether reading more of the book would -- it sometimes helps to get over the first few chapters before getting hooked.