Now full-on binge reading the series. It's just very enjoyable entertainment. What I appreciate best about this third book is how tight the story is. It feels like the author plotted all 5 books out from the beginning, then stuck to the discipline of telling the story as planned. Contrast with Game of Thrones or the Harry Potter books which got bloated and sprawly later in the series. It's nice to read something solid.

I also like the subtle subversions of fantasy tropes in the books. Both Geder and Cithrin are interesting spins on traditional fantasy protagonists. And I love the conclusion of the Heroic Quest in the middle of the book, just great.