Post apocalyptic world that is all gloom but is understandable and tough, magic, a love story (of sorts), a growing up (of sorts) and an ending that closes the story in a good but not sentimental way. Some of the twists were fairly telegraphed but not in a way that made me groan. Overall, well done Martha Wells.
Well, that is one the most enjoyable urban fantasy/procedural novels I have read in a good while. Enjoyable, understandable and not over the top human characters. The supernatural characters are well integrated but not used by the author in ways that have them making the humans redundant. The writing is meticulous and the payoffs are will set up.