there are many reviews complaining that the story doesn’t go anywhere in this book that it’s all about the main character training. But it’s more than that, it’s actual character development. Usually we see the hero do a few push ups or swear he will be stronger before the author writes him stronger but in this book we have a detailed accounting of how our hero becomes one who can ascend or at least meet the threats. Even more so it’s nice to have the background behind the world, the science of how the magics work so that its no mystery to us how the hero evolves. This is a book series not a TV show or movie. books are supposed to develop characters not just jump from action to action scene. That being said the book is still action packed in nearly every section of it. Great addition to the series and making me buy the next two books now