Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Shallow characters and uncompelling scenes

Sadly I only got through the first 150-200 pages before I lost interest in this book. The focus on grand events and powerful magic left the characters lacking in depth. Several scenes were not played out to their potential, clearly functioning as plot points taking the reader to the next scene, leaving the setting cardboardlike and the people uninteresting. Examples are the surprise meeting with the empress in her throne room and the scene in the death realm. Furthermore, all of the main characters seem to have the same mindset and voice, which gets boring fast.I can see the fun in throwing the reader smack into the action without explaining too much of what's going on at first, but this strategy will only work if the reader can latch on to compelling characters with their own unique voice.