Aw, yeah! This book is better than the first and I don't feel so ridiculous liking it. The writing improved greatly and had matured in the while it took to write this, the characters grew more depth, and the plot thickened. 
 Oh, yes, the plot really upped its ante and the fact that Caelena was an assassin finally didn't seem like a contradiction. She shows her true, hard-core colours here and cunning, while still maintaining some of that girlish joy (and love of food) that she'd had in the first book. 
 Chaol and Dorian also improved as characters. Especially Dorian, though I'm still Team Chaol all the way. 
 And Nehemiah. (view spoiler)[Sniff. I can't believe that happened. Can't believe it. *sob* (hide spoiler)] Such a good character. 
 So, yes, characters... check. 
 Plot... check. 
 Crazy twists you don't see coming... Check (and a bunch of twists you did see coming... Check, check, check.) 
 Awfully wonderful fighting scenes... Check! 
 Great world building... well, could stand to use a bit more, but not as awful as some (coughcoughDivergentcoughcough) 
 four outta five.