I followed another reviewer's advice, on a stormy day, and took a chance because this was the first book in a long series and I was up for some "diving in to a new world." But I experienced trepidation, I'll admit. There were six books, and it would, were I to become addicted as I hoped, become a bit of a financial investment over the long haul. I hate leaving something in the middle, especially knowing there is always a cadence to a series, as there is even in a stand alone novel. The cover art lured me but it really did not give much of a "hint" of the world.