I must admit this was better than expected. The themes are very important, both in the real world realm (bullying) and in the fantasy world (war, power, friendship). The story has a fast pace and the characters are likable. But I really don't like how the author has chosen to deal with the topic of bullying at the very end. It seemed to me as an easy cop out and that ending didn't add anything to the topic that many children go through daily. It seemed like a missed opportunity. Otherwise, a really fun and interesting read with a bit of depth.