The only thing about the series that really bugs me is how empty the world seems. While it isn't stated outright it is strongly hinted in the second book that in fact the world consists of Joya d'Areña, Basajuan, Orovalle, and Inviernes. Which together can't be all that large. However, there might end up being a good explanation for this (e.g., the rest of the planet is the destroyed "world" people were rescued from, and everyone now lives on a small out-of-the-way continent).