Overblown and confusing; and for the most part mediocre writing. Explanations are maddeningly vague; you have a hard time figuring out who is who and what they’re trying to do, and the ending left me saying, “huh?”. Would have been better if the sorcery bits had been left out altogether and this was pure military fantasy; a story focusing mainly on Paran and the Bridgeburners would be much more intriguing.