THE ENDING THE ENDING THE ENDING. I can't give anything away but THE ENDING.
These are the kind of characters to whom it is so easy to get attached. Rygal is reckless and funny, Mel is so sweet and wholesome, Allie is impulsive and bold, Iriam is wise and majestic, Jan is noble and just, Dandio is brash and headstrong, and Aryion is... well, he's Aryion. The chaos trio of this book is fantastic. Allie is the kind of female character fantasy fiction so desperately needs. Mel is a precious gem that must be protected at all costs. And the ships--THE SHIPS! Oh, how I love my ships! AryDust forever and don't get me started on a certain ship that begins in this book...
The lore is magnificent. The action is intense and well-written. The pacing is good. The settings are beautiful and terrifying and all the right things. But what makes this series stand out from all the other epic high fantasy series? The characters. Every time.