I like that the fictional world depicted in the book is simple. The author speaks about ordinary farmers, soldiers, mercenaries, or sailors. Thanks to this simplicity, the book reads almost like a medieval story. Also, I found that the author's approach toward characters is very refreshing. For example, Malcolm is 47 years old when we first meet him. He is not a knight in shining armor; his past holds its tragedies; his future is obscure. Malcolm's character is multilayered. We could say in modern terms that he's experiencing a midlife crisis, trying to find his place in the rapidly changing world. It helps us emotionally connect with him. A hunter named Willich is another interesting character. He lost his beloved wife, Jai, because of his drinking habit. He can kill for a flask of "fire spirit." But "even the most unworthy can earn a second chance." This encouraging refrain follows Willich's storyline, which is the most intriguing in the book, in my opinion. Esther is strong-willed, stubborn, sharp-witted, and hard-working. At first, she appears naive, but she is a fast learner. Her storyline offers many great surprises for readers. Relationships between the characters deserve high praise as well.