Enjoyed reading The Path. I did struggle to get into the story for the first 30 pages, but after that point, it was smooth sailing. There were several moments where I laughed incredibly hard and reread passages and other times I cringed at the bloody battle scenes. Some soldiers got ripped apart. RIP.
I like the way magic is characterized as "weaving" the core energy of a person. It adds interesting visuals and shows how intricate the more powerful, intense weaves are. I thought the idea that as weavers get more experienced, their type of magic can influence their personalities was an interesting layer. I'm curious if that is going to factor in later, though I think we saw it a bit with some of the characters already. I do think some of the explanations of weaving and how it operated were repetitious throughout the novel, but I think the Author was trying to make sure the readers understood.
I'd say my favorite character is Astrid, who I relate to much more to than the other characters. Her refusal to blindly follow her religion offers an interesting contrast to Landon and showcases the different approaches people have to their most deeply held beliefs. I also think her magic combo is the coolest of the various types of magic shown. Also, I'm a big fan of the Twins.
But boy, do I have questions. Most of which are about the Daughters of Stone—specifically, why are they more powerful than any other magic sect. This is something that is obviously going to be addressed in future books as the secret behind their power is briefly hinted at.
There is a decent amount of foreshadowing for what will be explored in future novels, and I'm excited to get more answers and see the characters continue to develop. Overall, I'm already invested, and I was glad to read that the Author is working on the second book already.