While I am a devotee of Tamora Pierce, I admit that I approach new YA fantasy series with some skepticism. It took me years to give in and read Sarah J. Maas' work, but then I read all her novels over the course of a month. The Queen's Assassin is another installment in the tradition of strong women leading revolutions/rebellions in fantasy kingdom, and I'm glad that I put aside my skepticism to read the first look. Melissa de la Cruz has provided a rich history for the world of Avantine, and I look forward to seeing how this story develops.