I just finished this for the second time. I first read it as an adolescent and remember enjoying it and its sequels, but, being blessed with a poor memory, I was able to read it again as if it were the first time. 

I often find that books I read as a teenager are unenjoyable now, but that wasn’t the case with this one. Sure, it’s not as dense as George R. R. Martin or Stephen Donaldson (my two favourite authors of the genre) but it was very entertaining. 

I would like to have spent more time with Pug at the Academy as I felt that chapter was skimmed over, as was much of the tale actually. I think it could have used another 100 pages or so to flesh it out a bit, although it was still almost 700 pages as it was. 

Four stars