This was a good follow up to The Dragon's Path. I enjoyed the pace of this book more than the first. The story is developing well, and the characters are starting to take on a life of their own. 
 Cithrin is striving to prove her worth to the Medean Bank and find her place in the world. 
 Geder is given a position of power that he doesn't deserve and not equipped to handle. 
 Dawson the loyal nobleman trying to keep his country from being torn apart from within. 
 Marcus begins a journey that borders on the edge of crazy, if not impossible. 
 We are beginning to see more of Kit's perspective in this book, along with Clara Kalliam (Dawson's wife). Kit is an actor hired by Marcus in the first book to act as guard to the caravan he and Cithrin were traveling in. But Kit has his own past that he must now face. I believe these characters will be central to the story moving forward. 
 The main focus in this book is on Imperial Antea. This is where all the action is happening. It also happens to be where the priests of the Spider Goddess have made their temple. Who are these priests you ask? They are the speakers of thruth....so they say. 
 This book had a little bit of everything in it: war, rebellion, betrayal, love, hate, suspense, craziness. The story is heading down a dark and dangerous road. I am really anxious to see where it leads.