I'm really intrigued by everything I've heard about Raybearer, but yours is the first write-up that also had some criticism to share, which I'm grateful for, because I'd rather go in with realistic expectations and enjoy it than go in expecting it to be the best thing ever and encounter an impressive debut but one that has the flaws of a first book.

(Meanwhile, I'm working my way through the Hugo novellas and have finally hit one I'm actually enjoying... XP)