Fourth Wing

Quick, clear start that lays strong ground work and foundation with just the right amount of world building that allows the reader to still keep up.  There are also some significant action-oriented and intense/dramatic scenes very soon into the book that establish the significant stakes and the journey the reader is being set up to take.  Continues with a very strong pace through the first 200 pages and actually completes a big part that could've been understandably dragged out over the full 500 pages.  Kudos to not stretching out predictable story beats just to elongate the novel- this is a rare one that earns the length. There are great transitions back to the fast pace just before certain elements might become overdone and the last 80 pages provide the perfect surprises that make for a very strong ending.