This was not what I was expecting. In a good way. 
 I liked the first book of the trilogy just fine, but it wasn't until the very end that it really "grabbed" me. It's certainly dark and gritty, the reviews aren't lying, but I was waiting for that special undefinable something to set it apart from the other dark gritty fantasy novels spawning all over the place. I started to see it at the end of Prince of Thorns, and I was interested enough that I knew I'd continue the series. 
 I'M SO GLAD I DID. I absolutely loved this second installment! It delivers on its hinted promises and more. I admit that it took me a little while to figure out the chronology and keep the time jumps straight in my head, but it all worked. This book is way more than just dark and gritty - there's real beauty here, and philosophy, and characters that you love. And hate. And love to hate. And hate to love. You get my point. 
 My only real complaint is one that I often have with other books - unnaturally precocious children. I can give Jorg a pass for being only 14 in the first book and 18 in this one (despite thinking, speaking, and acting like a 45 year old man) because he's the main character and he's been through a lot. I can suspend my disbelief. But Miara being only 12 bordered on ridiculous. I'll wait and see if her wise-beyond-her-years nature has an actual explanation, or if it's just a writing choice by the author.