Let's say that's a 3.5 stars...

It was an interesting read for me. I admit, I read books very differently since I took up writing myself, so it can make it harder to review.
This one was particularly interesting because it is Epic Fantasy, and yet manages to be character-driven. There is a "bigger picture" going on, but there were points in there when I really started to root for the characters.
That being said, there were other times when I was thrown out of the characters and knew I was reading a book. And Kiana cries a lot. I'm not big on crying in books. It's just not my thing. So, it took me awhile to settle into the book, because right from the get-go, Kiana's world is turned upside down and she is crying. Understandable, yes. But, if I'd just met her, I would have been politely hugging her and patting her back and looking around for someone who actually knew her to palm her off to... Call me insensitive... Go on.
I suppose I would have liked a few pages to get to know her first.
That being said, about 10-15% in I was away. I was starting to care about Kiana and Skaric in particular and things were good. There was action, drama, and developing emotions.
However, somewhere in there I got a little lost. I think I didn't quite understand all the magic that was happening, and I didn't quite understand some of the character reactions to things (like the emerging truths about their gods). This may come down to my background versus the characters' backgrounds. They feel things that I wouldn't, and so it felt a little melodramatic at times... to me... not to say it will to everyone.
I didn't like much of the text in italics.
I liked the fire magic and its consequences. I almost felt like that could have been explored more deeply, and pretty much driven a novel of its own. Really cool concept.
Anyway, I do look forward to reading more from Clare.