In my opinion, this book was a -drastic- improvement on the first in the series. It was a relief to find that the author significantly backs off from the first book's dragging emphasis on non-consensual BDSM, incest, and pedophilia. (I'm still not clear who the target audience was for the first book.) The character development in book 2 was clever and gratifying, born out of interactions that felt wholly believable. I actually chuckled out loud a few times, as the author took a turn for the playful on a few welcome occasions. The ending even leaves an open-ended sense of contentment that the first book lacked. 
 Lucivar features dominantly throughout, whereas he had very little part in the first book. Here, we get to know the brutal, winged warrior wonder in great depth. And I, for one, enjoyed that part of the experience--the decidedly brother/sister dynamic that develops between him and Janelle feels as natural as it is poignant. Another highlight of some prominence was the expansion on the concept of the 'Kindred' animals, their part in the world, and their thought processes--which are delightfully species-unique.