agoraoptera
Neat, I've been waiting for this ever since you told me what it was about. I've just managed to read up to chapter 5 and I gotta say I had to pry myself from it, if I wasn't so busy with work stuff right now I'd have easily read through it in a single sitting. I really liked your style, it's very fluid and you give just enough description for the reader to visualize the scenes well without getting bogged down in details. It has been just 5 chapters but I'm already totally into the world you've built, I specially liked a city carved out of stalagmites/tites, it's the kind of unique setting that really makes high fantasy really appealing. I'll be reading more of it later tonight but I just wanted to give my first impressions ASAP.
BTW I loved the references you made in some of the names, specially the ones in the Trials. Had a smile on my face all throughout.
EDIT: Just finished reading through the last 5 chapters and finished the 1st act. The pacing of the story was just right, it was fast enough to keep it from getting stale and slow enough that it didn't feel rushed. I can also say the same thing about the plot hooks you've opened so far, they're neither over nor underwhelming. The supporting characters are all unique and interesting, Thisk and Malmo are my favorites so far after their scene together, and knowing what's going to happen to them is one of the things I'm looking forward the most in the next act.
Reading through the first act was a blast and it really surpassed all my expectations. I can't wait till you're ready to release the next act.
