I love this dark fantasy series. In truth I forgot how much. This first installment is very wordy and doesn't end the story at all. Still it's a wonderful beginning. ( )

Long multi-character tale told from both sides, which is not always an easy trick to achieve, and the author did so very enjoyably.

The Fey - comprising of various sub-races of mages, soldiers, shapechangers and the like have conquered half the known world over a few centuries. They had a few set-backs along the way (such as the first time they met iron swords), but nothing really stopped their inexorable progress. Having reached the coast, the next obvious target was the Isle of Blue, a stepping stone to the next continent. The Isle had a bit of a reputation as a rich trading nation, protected from previous attacks with some tricky sea-approaches, but didn't sound anything significantly different to the other baseline humans nations the Fey had beguiled their way past. They prefer to absorb local cultures and suffer from none of the traditional weakness of the faerie, indeed apart from their particular magics they're hardly Fey at all.

The Islanders have been steadfastly ignoring warnings from their usual trading partners, have they not been safe for centuries protected by their Saint Rocca and his Absorption to god. The sudden arrival of the Fey fleet comes as a nasty shock, and they were almost overrun on the first day, apart from the chance discovery by a priest that the Fey are utterly susceptible to Holy Water, the merest drop melts them into a stinking mess. Although the Highest Priest is distraught to have the Holy Water used for murder, he and his chief assistant Bless enough to provide a hurried defense and the key Palace and Temple remain secure. The Fey retreat and a standoff ensues.

The Fey characters are all admirably single focused depending on their specialisation, the leaders have Vision, and are lacking in adaptability when they're forced into situations they haven't Seen - as increasingly happens once the Holy Water is deployed and as the Fey leader ages. The Humans are less focused but more adaptable, with Priests being able to lead when necessary etc, Most of the characters we focus on are Fey with the exception of the Islander's King's son, and the chief priest. These are sufficiently detailed that it doesn't just feel like an occasional omnipresent viewpoint of the opponent (a writing style I hate and well avoided here). It's hard to feel empathy for the Fey though, even when they're being melted by water, or having to flee from even the potential of it's presence. This is also a sign of skillful charactersiation, to spend so long with people who feel fully rounded, with fears and desires, but lacking in compassion.

A few threads are left hanging, mostly regarding Fey, hopefully to be picked up in the sequels - there's a doppelganger unaccounted for, a babe captured by the Fey, a stray Redcap and some bewitched Islanders etc. But most of the tales are brought to some form of resolution, even though we know a lot more has been Forseen to happen.

Somehow though the whole book was enjoyable it never quite had the passion needed for 5* read. There is little engagement with the Fey characters, and not enough time with the Islanders. It's a long book and the plot doesn't really drag, but equally doesn't quite captivate the reader either. A couple of large time-jumps (well signposted) add to the discontinuity that one doesn't get in the best books. Clever though adn well worth reading. ( )

from Audible.com, it comes in 3 part. I really liked part 1 but part 3 just keeps putting me to sleep. The narration is good though. ( )