As a huge fan and author of epic fantasy, I can be a bit of a book snob. With that being said, I really liked this short little prelude to the Darkness Within Saga (which I am now eagerly looking forward to reading).
What I really liked about the story was that the magic system feels that it was really well developed for the world that the author is created. It seems complex, but is devastatingly powerful. Yet for all the power it offers, the characters can still find themselves vulnerable. I do have a few minor things about the story arc that I questioned, but overall I am still looking forward to reading more of JD Franx book's.