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neolx's review against another edition
The first chapter of this first book depicts multiple accounts of child injury and abuse despite the overall cozy tone and setting. Turns out the author and his wife were jailed for caging and beating their adopted son and animals in a basement. I know a lot of people love this series from childhood, and bad things happening to characters in fantasy books is the norm, but the first chapter almost felt like it was revelling in the child abuse (especially when an adult was described as being more concerned with her dented kitchen pots than with the screams of her nephew as she stitched up his wound). And the main character was disappointed when his female friend was exempted from being beaten because his aunt states: "You don't thrash girls." At least someone is spared physical abuse in this author's twisted mind (though it was stated in the news that his adopted daughter was not spared verbal abuse). Knowing the author was a child (and animal) abuser made it hard for me to continue reading. It's a shame because it seemed to have the elements of classic high fantasy I was looking for (sorcerers and sorceresses in hiding, cozy rural starting setting, warring kingdoms, quests, a magical orb, etc).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
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