One of the best fantasy books I've read for a while. The tale is a little mixed; it starts very well, it's slow in pace, but you get the sense that it has considerable merit and, as you read, that proves true. There's a good climax at the end of the book.
The mix of characters is its main strength, two opposing characters deliberately brought together to forge them both into better people. If they don't kill each other first, then this might just work. There's only a smattering of fantasy creatures in this first instalment, but there is a greater sense of more to come and the tale is sufficiently different to wet your appetite.
I enjoyed this tale and will want to read more of Sullivan's works.