This book is a constant misery-fest. Everyone in it is completely miserable all the time. Poor Kestrel. Jeez, kick a girl while she's down why don't you! (view spoiler)[Seriously. There's like one happy moment when Verex gives her the puppy and even that gets taken away from her! (hide spoiler)] 
 I felt the plot was fairly predictable. I kept screaming at all the characters to just figure out the conspiracy because it was obvious! But that's really my whole problem with historically set books. No one every just communicates with each other and information literally has to be walked across a country to reach the right people. UGH! 
 I did enjoy Kestrel's intelligence and all the spy intrigue. I really liked Verex too. He was a genuinely nice guy. I hope he stands up to his dad in book 3. He probably will because the plot screams its predictability at you from the beginning. I gave it 3 stars just because it was all right and has me just intrigued enough to finish the series when Winner's Kiss comes out.