The Sacred Band - David Anthony Durham This was, beyond a doubt, the best of the trilogy. The previous books had some problems with too much exposition, and this one did a great job of avoiding that. The author is definitely getting better as he goes, unlike so many authors who seem to have peaked and begun to decline. I was really attached to nearly all of the characters. I found Corinn such a complex and human villain. I love Mena and Melio, and Dariel really grew on me here, too, when previously I hadn't really grokked him. I do admit the League seems a bit too cartoonishly evil and rather short-sighted.

The reason I didn't give it a full five stars was because I felt the ending was a bit too abrupt. It was a satisfying ending, but I really wanted a little bit more of an epilogue. Specifically, I really wanted to see Dariel and Melio's homecoming. I wanted a different ending for Aliver, too, but I don't know what I would've had it be.