When I read this book, I started out liking the main character, Tildi, as well as the world described, including the way in which magic manifests itself (runes Tildi can see, but most others can’t).
Tildi, last survivor of her family, cannot inherit her house and estate because she is “just” a female halfling (called smallfolk). Her village elders make plans to marry her off, so she legs it (like “Yentl”), dressed in her brother’s clothes, fulfilling his destiny, had he not died: taking up an apprenticeship with Olen, the world’s equivalent of Gandalf.
From there, the story really starts to flow (magic, the Great Book, centaurs and werewolves, runes, kings and minstrel poetry), but unfortunately, I started finding Tildi too one-dimensional and not emancipating herself enough.
I also found too many parallels to LOTR, especially with the power of the Book, the Fellowship of Tildi, a visit to the elves and the foolish royalty.
All in all, too many twists in the story were so predictable that I already knew they were coming at the end when I was half way through the book, and upon reaching the final pages, it turned out not to be a closed story, but part one of Tildi’s quest.
I think I will read the other book once it comes out next year, but just to get closure.