The Company of Birds

by Nerine Dorman

Sometimes a hero must burn all she holds dear.

Unrest brews in the city-state of Uitenbach, but its magi continue their work, even though the world outside the hallowed grounds of their academy seems to be tearing itself to pieces.

Newly divorced and still smarting from her philandering ex-husband’s rejection, Maga Liese ten Haven doesn’t want to draw attention to herself. When the mysterious Atroyan tribesman Malagai reveals to Liese that she is the heir to a forbidden magical legacy, she is thrust into a conspiracy that may foment a civil war. If she fails, her magic will consume her.

But what if the only way to right the wrongs her people have done to the Atroyan nation is to sacrifice everything?

Genres: Fantasy

374 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy currently living in Cape Town, with short fiction published in numerous anthologies. She is a contributor to the Locus Award-winning Afro-Centered Futurism in Our Speculative Fiction edited by Eugen Bacon (Bloomsbury, 2024). Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella, Dragon Forged, was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017, and she is the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition. Her short story “On the Other Side of the Sea” (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for “Best Novella” in 2019. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion.

Reviews

[Xan Rooyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, it's been a while since I've read an epic fantasy novel and this was a great book to break back into the genre.

I absolutely loved that this book draws inspiration from South Africa and South African culture. Readers familiar with the country will enjoy nods to the nature, cuisine, and languages.

The author has created a novel rich with world-building. For me, the intricate world-building was one of the best features of the book but also one of its drawbacks. Because readers need to understand how the world works to truly appreciate the politics that drives the plot, the first half of the story felt a little slow at times as it laid the groundwork for the setting and introduced us to the characters.

Around 2/3 into the story, the pacing picks up and the plot really takes off. I flew through the last 25% of the book and was disappointed the story ended where it did because I found myself deeply invested in the characters and I have to know where their story goes from here. I really do hope there's a sequel in the works!

[A.B. Neilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading it. Eyes with tears. Beautiful. Review to come.

[Barry Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Simple. (I received an advance copy in return for an honest review).

I am a typical high/epic fantasy fan with the like of David Eddings, JRR Tolkein, Raymond E Feist, Anthony Ryan, Peter V Brett etc being my stable fare - you get the picture.

The Company of Birds is not my standard fare, or is it?

This is a well-crafted tale set in a very real world that is rife with racism, elitism and sexism.

The protagonist is a flawed, timid and awkward heroine who is dealing with significant personal issues that bring realistic human drama to her tale. She has suffered loss, struggles with connections and feels alone and powerless, estranged from society.

She becomes entangled in the lives of a few others as she takes simple steps to find herself and find some small measure of peace or happiness and these steps ultimately lead her to a terrifyingly real ordeal.

I don't want to say much more than that about the actual plot as I feel this story is best explained by reading it.

While the advance copy I received was electronic, I have now ordered the paperback version so I can read this again in a manner I am happier with because this book deserves to be read more than once.

[Tiah]

~If the world had to fall to dry academia all the time, we'd all be turned to stone out of boredom.~

~I'm so tired of trying to make everyone happy. They just end up abusing your good humour.~

~Children are not the be-all and end-all of the world.~

~The moment I'd left my parents' home to follow my studies, I'd died to my old life. There was no return.~

~It was one thing to find messages, but quite another to meet the messenger.~

~Life never quite turns out the way we expect it, and each year the choices we have to make become fewer and fewer.~

[Elizabeth Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't Put It Down

This book is a true page turner, and I put off a llt of other things in my life to continue reading it. When it was over, I wished the next book were available on the spot.

The first chapter proposed an engaging mystery that I found myself keen to unravel. I spent most of the book fitting together the pieces while enjoying tantalizing language and descriptions throughout. Any flaws I noted were minor, and I hope to pick up the sequel soon.

[Yolandie Horak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free digital copy of this book for an honest review, but the fact that I ordered a softcover halfway through the read should tell you all you need to know. My shelf was incomplete without it.

If you're looking for not-your-traditional fantasy novel, set in somewhere other than pseudo-Europe, this is the book for you. Lush writing, wonderful characters, and a unique take on magic and self-discovery. Also, the birds. Any book is better if it features birds! Highly recommended.

[Nerine Dorman]

Can't rate my own book, but hells, you can.

[Riley Herbert-Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Company of Birds by Nerine Dorman is the type of fantasy novel that stays with you for a very long time after you finish reading it. I hosted a read-along for this novel on social media alongside a few of the other Mirari Luminaries and it was so fun to get to experience this with them.

The story follows Maga Liese ten Haven, whose husband has recently left her in favour of an ex-student. While she recovers from the heartbreak, she finds out from a mysterious tribesman named Malagai that she is the heir to a forbidden magical legacy, that if left unfulfilled, will result in her demise.

Nerine Dorman’s prose is elegant and lyrical. She conjures worlds that are rich and vivid and otherworldly. Her characters are flawed and deeply human. You feel with them, ache with them, route for them. Dorman manages to find the perfect balance between working with introspective character monologues and high-stakes conflict, all while asking difficult moral questions.
This book is a must read for all fantasy lovers!

[Cat Hellisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liese ten Haven is an Uiten woman, and nominally a Mage at the university. Although she is one of the few Maga there, she has no real magical power, but her gift with and knowledge of languages ensures her a place. She is a bitter woman, recovering from a public divorce and the subsequent remarriage of her ex-husband. She has few friends left at the university, although at least one good friend, Isha, will see her through her story.

She has settled into a constrained, comfortable life at the university, so caught up in her little world that she does not realise the full extent of the social unrest brewing in the city and the world around her.

But is her father’s death - and the subsequent secrets it reveals - that throw her into a deadly, forbidden path: fire magic. Long since illegal, and carrying a death sentence, this strange power awakes within her, and Liese must unravel its secrets before she is caught and imprisoned in the Tower of Ravens - or put to death. Egged on by a strange Atroyan scholar named Malagai, she begins to uncover the depth of her powers, and discovers there have been others like her. And that there is one held captive by the mages at the university right now - a girl called Ulana, Malagai’s daughter.

A series of awful events begins to unfold, and Liese’s world is ripped apart piece by piece, as her former partners and colleagues set in motion shocking tortures and civil punishments in an attempt to quell the unrest and fighting between the Uiten and Atroyans.

Just how much will Liese sacrifice in order to save a girl she barely knows, in exchange for a life as a wanted criminal.

Nerine Dorman’s writing is very lush and layered, and her descriptions of the world Liese inhabits are vivid enough to make you feel as though you are there herself. While at times the writing can feel a little laboured, and slowing down a story that is already focused very much on internal journeys, it will appeal to readers who like to savour a strange new world. This is not flash!bang! fantasy, but a story about people, and their fight to find a place that is truly theirs.

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This was a little out of my comfort zone, as I don't gravitate towards fantasy with such dense worldbuilding. But since the publisher was kind enough to provide me with a copy for review, I figured the least I could do is give it a try. It was a little slow going for me, only because getting my head around the political factions and how the magic worked involved more paying attention than comes naturally to me. Definitely take my opinion with a grain of salt. I know some regular fantasy readers who LOVE the world building. This is definitely an "it's me, not the book" situation.

While I struggled with the larger plot threads, I really enjoyed the main character's growth. Liese is a flawed character who is also dealt a very raw hand by life. She's hit with several staggering set backs and tbh, I resonated with her desired to curl up and ignore everything. Her circumstances make her myopic at times. It was interesting to see such a self-sacrificing role foist on someone who, when we first meet her, is quite self-centred and unable to see beyond her own pain. There were times when I wished we could see things from another character's eyes. I would have loved to see things unfold from Isha's POV.

Also: birds. I love birds. More books should have this many birds in them. 5/5 stars for the birds.

[Cassey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.5 read rounded up. This read has been odd. It took sometime for me to fully get into it - 6 chapters - and then it was all systems go. It's most frustrating as I've loved other words from Nerine, but somehow everything was just that smidge off kilter for me with this one.

I think it's likely because the protagonist, Liese was just not someone I could like.

I'm not saying that all protagonists must always be likeable, that's boring, but the moments of liking her were far outnumbered by those when I liked her. She's utterly human often, which makes it tough given where she ends up. She's got to be that little bit more than your average human given her power and the lot befallen to her. The world building is great in this read - lots of it will feel very familiar to South Africans, and those who know our history.

The internal journey that Liese takes is intense. Birds are extra scary to me now. Revenge is best served hot. Isha is the best. And when do we get book two?

[Mr Pink Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Some books enchant you from the first page. Others pull you in gradually, weaving a spell with their depth and complexity. The Company of Birds by Nerine Dorman does both. A richly layered fantasy, this novel is an immersive and rewarding read for those who love intricate world-building and phenomenal character growth.

One of the novel’s most striking features is its setting. The city-state of Uitenbach and its surrounding regions are heavily influenced by Afrikaans and South African culture. Readers unfamiliar with this language may need a moment to adjust to the pronunciation of names and places, but this only adds to the novel’s authenticity and immersive quality. Dorman’s prose is evocative, painting vivid images of a world that feels both fantastical and deeply real.

While the novel draws inspiration from elements of South African landscapes and societal dynamics, Dorman emphasizes in her Q&A that the story remains firmly within the realm of fantasy rather than a direct reflection of real-world history.

"And if they decided to end me? The abbys of death held no fear for me anymore; in fact, death would be a relief, a release from the cares of this existence. I'd tried, damn it. Wasn't that enough?"

At the heart of the story is Maga Liese ten Haven, a scholar and mage recovering from the betrayal of a philandering ex-husband. Liese is the kind of protagonist who grows on you—not because she’s perfect, but because she’s deeply flawed and wholly human. When she discovers she is heir to a forbidden magical legacy, she is thrust into a web of conspiracies that could ignite a civil war. Her journey is one of self-discovery, painful choices, and ultimately, transformation.

Liese’s growth is nothing short of phenomenal. She starts as a woman determined to keep her head down and avoid trouble, but circumstances force her to rise above her own pain and comfort. Her evolution—from a disillusioned scholar to someone willing to risk everything to right the wrongs of her people—is one of the novel’s strongest aspects. Dorman does not hand her an easy path; every lesson comes with a price, and every victory is hard-won.

The magic system in The Company of Birds is intricate and well-thought-out, entwined with the novel’s political and social themes. The conflict between the magi of Uitenbach and the Atroyan tribes speaks to larger historical injustices, making the novel feel deeply layered. While it reflects on power dynamics and societal struggles, it remains a work of fantasy rather than an allegory for real-world events. The way Dorman balances personal stakes with broader socio-political struggles is masterful.

The pacing of the novel does require patience, especially in the first half, where much of the world-building takes place. However, once the story gains momentum, the payoff is immense. The depth of the world, combined with Dorman’s lyrical prose, makes for a read that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

"I might try to fool myself I was doing the right thing, but frankly I was terrified either way, whether I remained a prisoner in a gilded cage for an indefinite period or risked everything in one, mad swoop."

For readers who appreciate character-driven fantasy with rich world-building, The Company of Birds is a must-read. It’s a book that demands your attention and rewards it tenfold with its depth, beauty, and emotional resonance. Liese ten Haven’s journey is one that will stay with you, as will Dorman’s breathtaking prose.

[Tara Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Company of Birds by Nerine Dorman (@nerinedorman) is a tale of it never being too late to try and do the right thing.

Liese is jaded, hurt by those who should have loved and supporter her and a bit stuck in her job. When the mysterious Atroyan Malagai comes into her life, she is forced to confront the unrestful world around her and must choose to either run and hide in her books, or take a stand and fight for truth and freedom.

I really enjoyed how unapologetically raw Liese is. Her bitterness is not downplayed and she does make the wrong choices. But she tries. Even when it's hard, she tries. And isn't that what matters? She is dedicated and so full of love and you want good things for her.
The rest of the cast are a great blend of fascinating, lovable (and/Or hateable) and mysterious. You will be intrigued by Malagai, love Isha and Ulana and the loathing I have for the ex husband!!!!
There are mysteries, interesting magic systems, lots of violence (beware) and lots of heart.

Dorman has mentioned that most of the names and landscapes of this world take inspiration from South Africa, as well as South African history and I found that added a lot of depth and nuance to the tale.

This is a one off fantasy novel that could potentially be revisited in the future and I fully recommend giving it a try!

[D.K. Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was a unique high fantasy novel in many ways. Nerine Dorman has a quirky engaging voice, and she is very good at conveying the emotional state of her main character, Liese. She was not a typical high fantasy heroin, being a thirty-something scholar and divorcee. I found her well rounded; having many admirable qualities mixed with nuanced and believable flaws. The first-person narrative brought across a fully fleshed out character that I could cheer for. I appreciated her cynical wit and her honesty when describing her youthful aspirations versus what she had achieved in life.

The setting was absolutely fantastic, richly described and transportive. As a nature-lover, I appreciated how often the beauty of nature formed a part of the setting. Plants, landscapes and especially birds play a central role. They are all beautifully described and you can tell the author has an appreciation for nature and has spent a lot of time watching birds. It is a colonial narrative, and the society is complex and well fleshed out. This is not your typical middle-ages European setting; the society, its values and the characters are all a refreshing take on the high fantasy genre.

This book did a good job of balancing plot with character development. I think readers who like Robin Hobb would appreciate Nerine Dorman’s work. Though the plot was interesting and conclusive, there were large portions of the book that were devoted to Liese’s development as a character. For me, characters are what make me care about a book. As the plot develops, you get to know Liese very well and it becomes as much a story of her daily life as it is a story of a mage who develops forbidden magic.

I recommend this book, and look forward to the second installment.

[Melanie Roussel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Company of Birds is a lovingly crafted epic fantasy which I thoroughly enjoyed. The protagonist, Liese is a wonderfully flawed character who draws a tremendous deal of empathy. While all the characters are well drawn, it’s Liese who drives the story and is the most fully rounded.

The world building in this story is beautiful and I found myself getting lost in it. This dominates the first half of the book and while that effected the pacing, the imagery created was worth it. There are many strong themes which are planted at the beginning which pay off in the climax.

I received a free review copy of book in return for an honest review. And I’m very interested in reading more from this author.

[Reinhard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fantasy genre is often characterised by templates, taking tried-and-tested blueprints and seeing how authors can create something unique within the familiar. Assassin guilds. Schools for witchcraft. Forbidden magic. Half the fun of fantasy is seeing how the familiar tropes are subverted and toyed with.

And yet, few authors really break the mold and do something truly surprising.

But when you’re speaking about an author like Nerine Dorman, a veteran in the fantasy and speculative fiction field, it shouldn't come as a surprise that The Company of Birds does just that: something new.

Patrick Rothfuss, J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, and maybe most importantly Ursula K. Le Guin — each one has added a unique chapter to the realm of fantasy academia. The writing styles, tones, world-building, and magic of each are unique. And yet one trope each follows in most cases (albeit in their own unique and magical way) is that of the student-centred bildungsroman.

Dorman turns the tables and welcomes the reader into the unravelling life of Liese ten Haven, a university lecturer whose career has reached the glass ceiling and instead of being driven by new love, is still reeling from divorce. Simply put, this isn’t standard escapist fair. This is a study of what it means to be a woman in a society that is bent on breaking you down. And how that experience affects a person’s ability to react to the wrongs committed against others.

Underneath its surface, the civil unrest and cultural characteristics have just enough South Africa in them to bring about a knowing smile on this reader’s face, but the worldbuilding is much richer than a simple cultural pastiche. The histories and mythologies touched on and referenced in The Company of Birds are enough to make you drool, from ancient Dark Ones to wars with dragons to magical gates. Yet as a character-driven work, the depths of mythology are largely only hinted at, with Dorman creating a novel driven by human analysis instead of high fantasy adventure. But instead of leaving you wanting, it leaves you eager for what comes next, eager to uncover more of the world.

Still, the slow build that Dorman perfects somewhat robs The Company of Birds of its immediate impact. The first-person perspective draws the reader into the character’s mind, allowing you to experience the turmoil of Liese ten Haven as she has to gather the courage to turn against a society that has no place for her and embrace the path that opens from outside. But it also leaves you wanting when you know so much of the intrigue and mystery is happening off-page while the protagonist is still struggling with internal battles and questions you’ve pondered for long enough.

And yet, it’s the slow build-up and slow pace that makes The Company of Birds so intriguing and infuriating all at once.

“It’s not easy. Especially when everyone just expects me to move on.” Liese ten Haven’s words are the perfect defence for Dorman’s refusal to turn the novel into a paint-by-numbers swashbuckling romp. Because the pace is a result of the fact that Maga is written not as a study of a classical hero, but a study of what it means to be human. She is petty at times. She is flawed. And she may just remind the reader of themselves at their weakest one too many times. And it’s that mirroring of flawed humanity that makes it so rewarding when she grows and changes and embraces her magic.

With Mirari Press recently announcing Nerine Dorman’s 5-book series Fate’s Scatterlings, readers might have to wait a while for the follow-up to The Company of Birds and the conclusion to Liese’s story. I may have received a review copy of The Company of Birds, but once you reach the last page, you'll understand why I'm counting the days till the sequel hits the shelves.

[On the (Book) Case · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘A Company of Birds’ is an interesting novel that incorporates aspects of magic, secrets, betrayal, mystery, academic settings, and some birdie references 🪶

The overall plot was quite interesting and was riddled with plot twists that kept the story both interesting and moderately paced. The author did, however, spend quite of lot of time setting the scene – the true “action” only started about 100 pages in – which dragged the beginning of the book quite a lot in terms of pacing and action. Other than that, however, the plot really carried this book.

The characters had some strong personalities and were very strategically placed throughout the book in order to best develop the story. Liese especially was very headstrong and determined to the point where I sometimes had to question her actions throughout the book. Malagai was similarly just as determined – his introduction to Liese is especially telling in this regard.

I have to mention: Putting aside the fact that Liese and Isha have been friends for years, their constant conversations that without fail included some or other sexual reference / talk about how physically “lonely” Liese has been since her divorce, all got tiresome very quickly. Page long conversations (in the midst of important plot elements) about Isha’s “activities” and Liese’s “lack of activities” detracted so much from the overall plot that the point of the book felt downplayed in the face of it. Similarly, Liese’s downright violence towards Katrien – the young student Liese’s ex-husband left her for – (not to mention the various ill wishes against her unborn twins) was very excessive and unnecessary even in her set of circumstances.

If the book existed without these constant “sideline” conversations and thoughts it would’ve been a 5 star worthy read – as I’ve mentioned, the underlying plot really has a lot of potential to take this book very far. I understand that Liese’s divorce plays a big role when considering who Liese is as a character, and that divorce brings about ugly and unwanted thoughts, I just wish it was incorporated in a different way.

I received this book from Mirari Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Tasneem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Company of Birds is a stunning example of why reading is inherently political. In today’s landscape, where most conflate fantasy with escapism and not much else, Dorman effortlessly comments on the ordinary person’s ability to bury their head in the sand, not out of malice, but a sense of self-preservation.


Maga Liese ten Haven is not your typical main character- she is not young and untested, but rather someone who has already walked through life and tasted its bitter waters. As a result, she is content with just simply existing as she is, at least until circumstances force her to act.


“I didn’t like to think about goings-on outside of my tightly furled world, but too much of that was intruding of late for me to ignore it.” Quotes such as these lead one to draw parallels between the complex, conflict-ridden world we live in today and the unrest setting the backdrop of Uitenbach, and the mindset of the ordinary, everyday person.


Where most fantasies today are fast-paced, showing us the world-building and magic systems as the plot unravels, The Company of Birds favours a more gradual exploration of the intricacies and depth of the Maga’s world. It is also character-driven, with Liese’s growth coming out of self-discovery and pain.


A must read for those in need of a richly layered and authentic world to lose themselves in while still taking in real-life connotations.


Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a free copy of The Company of Birds in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is spectacular fantasy! The type of fantasy that leaves you with a clear picture in your head of this detailed and spellbinding world. Uitenbach is not just a pretty backdrop for this story. It is its own character. And makes the story all the more vibrant. The politics and magic system can be see throughout the story and you can see how it has shaped the created world.

I liked the characters because they felt real. It did take me a while to warm up to our main character Liese, which I don’t think is a bad thing. She is shy and quiet and just likes to keep to herself. Us introverts take a while to warm up to and it is the same with Liese. All the characters are believable because they aren’t all nice likeable characters. You can’t like everyone in the real world and even the people you like can be annoying sometimes. These characters are just the same. They all have their little things that make them a bit unlikeable, except for Malagai, who is amazing (I’ll die on this hill).

This is the story of an introverted book girl who is forced to leave her comfy bookish safe place and be a hero, kinda. And I have never related to a character more. I honestly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it is worth your time to read it.

5 sparrow tornados attacking your cheating ex out of 5.

[Xander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Company of Birds by Nerine Dorman is proof that South Africans should read, and write more fantasy. This novel of a divorcee academic dealing with marital grief, and actual grief trying to survive in a world that is on the crisp of erupting into a civil war will have you feel all the emotions. There is also so much fascinating cultures, histories and events taking place in this world I was a but upset when I finished the novel because I just wanted to explore these things more.

I absolutely loved how Nerine took South African history, and used it to form her own world. Her prose is also *chef's kiss*. She is on track to joining my fantasy favourites (Terry Pratchett, and Robin Hobb).

Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the romance, but that is just a me thing, never really been a fan of romances. I also found the novel to be a slow start, but boy, does it go form 1 to 100 real quick.

Also, fudge a certain chapter. That was Game of Thrones level of emotional devastation.

[Giovanni Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell's bells what a read.

What stood out for me most about this book was its prose. You really get lost in the MC, Liese, as she narrates not only her outer surroundings and actions but inner world so beautifully.
I think the mark of a great novel is that the main character is transformed from beginning to end, and here, Liese goes from timid book owl to a brave warrioress who is committed to fighting the villainy f her world and gain mastery of a power she didn't ask for, one which might destroy her.
This book was deliberate in its delivery of exactly what was going on at all points in time, the environments and habits of the characters were so beautifully narrated, and the action had my heeart beating in my throat.
Can't recommend it more!

[Meade Reads (and writes!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book with great characters!

[Shaun Rensburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been so excited for a book that you kept pushing off reading it, scared that you might pick it up, read fifty pages, and realise that, yes, it’s not all that good?
Trust me when I say, this book lived up to my inner hype… and so much more. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I’m not biased when I shout this at you: GO AND READ IT!

Having read a few fantasy novels by South African authors in my past, I thought I knew what to expect with this one. Turns out, I really didn’t. It was fresh and vibrant and the writing was undeniably GORGEOUS.

Much like her protagonist in ‘The Company of Birds’, Nerine Dorman has a gift for words. She strings them together, sentence by sentence, in a way that’s wonderfully smooth. ‘The Company of Birds’ is so well written, on a technical level, that once you’re in the groove, you can easily stay there until the end.

And don’t get me started on the setting! If you know me, you know I love domestic-feeling stories, and Nerine Dorman has somehow taken a secondary-world fantasy novel (with sprinkles of inspiration from Dragon Age and South Africa) and made it feel intimate and real—magic, politics, and the like—without ever making it feel monotonous. The characters were flawed and relatable and Liese ten Haven, especially, was so well constructed that she’s the type of protagonist you can follow through several books without getting tired of her.

If you haven’t read it, you need to do yourself a favour. If I could give it more than 5 stars on here, I’d do it in a heartbeat.