I've read other reviews saying that Rutkoski upped her game. She has indeed. 
 If you were iffy after reading the first book, well I can assure you that you will not be disappointed by this installment. 
 This tale is one intelligently woven into court intrigues, military dilemmas and complex and ever changing emotions. Treason and lies that literally makes this a page turner. Most intelligent book I've read in a while. (Don't you hate it when you read too obvious intrigues?) 
 This book does not suffer from the middle book syndrome, that's for sure.