With the first book in the series, I was surprised by it. I didn't really know what to expect, by way of storyline, when going into it, and that made it, for me, more enjoyable. This book I obviously read the back blurb and knew what to expect so while reading I wasn't caught off guard so to say and that may have clouded my judgement of this book. Not to say I didn't enjoy this book, but not as much as the first book. 
 I think I just really want Rose to be this separate entity from Dimitri. I don't want this to turn into a series where every actino is because of him. That is one of the reasons that I liked the ending of this book. Rose and compan get into a really scary situation, and she doesn't think "I wish someone were to come and save me" she figures a way to get out herself and executes that plan effectively. Sometimes it's nice when the heroine is saved by our hero, but most of the time I like it better when we have a strong heroine who can save herself. That is certainly Rose. I was glad Richelle Mead decided to do the story that way. 
 There were points in the story that I really wished that Dimitri would take another assignment and leave. I mean if they both know it's wrong then they need to stay away from each other. Since it would be easier for Dimitri to leave the school than Rose he should go. The drama sometimes is just too much. It turns Rose into one of those girls who crushes and thinks about the guy they can't have way too much. I would like their forbidden love story even more if it didn't effect Rose when they weren't together. I admit it doesn't always effect her, and those are the times that I think this storyline could work out, but then when she does turn into the spiteful person because she keeps being reminded that they can't be together I really can't stand it. 
 I liked the overall storyline of this book. It was nice for the characters to get out of the school setting and go somewhere else where we could meet others. Adriene was a nice addition, although, I know he's supposed to be a love interest for Rose later on, but I just don't feel it at all. I feel more of a friendship between them and I wish that's how it was kept in the books, but I know that's not true. 
 With a love triangle it's alwas easy to tell who is more connected, which is usually who the main character ends up with in the end. 
 At this point with the series I could go either way. I think that if I stopped reading I wouldn't be upset or feel I was missing anything, but I will try to perservere. Until Then!