great book...pity about the ending - Rated 
i loved this book, the pace picks up as you go and i could hardly put it down. how ever, the ending had me annoyed, as it clearly ended mid story, just as the story had built to a good pace, so now i feel like i have been led into a marketing trap to buy the second book!
Highly recommended read - Rated 
I came across this book whilst looking at another. Thank goodness I did it is utterly amazing. Well written with a plot that keeps you guessing and looking forward to the next event. I had to make myself finish it as I found I was slowing down due to not wanting the book to end. Karen Miller doesn't glorify violence as I have found some other fantasy writers do but is as descriptive as she needs to be. If you read any book this year make sure it's this one 10/10!!!
Kinda rubbish - Rated 
I expected more. Much more. Although it had a certain style and wit that raised the standard once every two chapters, the plot was flat with the main character's magic only developing late in the second book. The main character also came across as moody while the rest of the characters, especially Dathne, were nothing to admire. The setting of the book, a foreign magic-using race as the crust of society while the magicless natives were the peasants and servants and the backbone of the land. This is ... just not good. Too cliched. Add a (let's face it) giant energy shield across the north border protecting the land from the evil magician Morg (short for Morgan; good grief, a new definition to scraping the bottom of the barrel) and you have a not-realistic stage. While some may say it's not supposed to be realistic, it's a fantasy, a) sometimes going too far from reality is dangerous and b) it just doesn't work. A few nice names though. And the fat blonde little assistant was a good character, in all. Not enough for two stars though.
Excellent - Rated
I absolutely loved this book, it was one of the best I've read in quite some time. I am always nervous when I read something by new authors, but I will have no fear of reading anything else by this one. The story was fast paced and brilliantly written, and I love the injections of wry humour that pepper the overall tale. Very well done. Can't wait for more.
Disappointing - Rated
I made the mistake of reading "Empress" by the same author first. I really enjoyed Empress as it was fleshy and complex. However, the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series is terrible. It is such a let down. The characters are flat and infuriating, the world is flat and the pace of the story is SO dragged out that it seems like the author wanted 2 books in the series so she could get people to buy both books.
Don't buy this series, rather borrow it and read it if you are suffering from insomnia.
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