** spoiler alert ** 
 My confusion with the politics and royal lines weren't exactly cleared up by the second volume in the Kushiel Series. I do think; however, that I have a better understanding of our heroine's, Phedre, world. 
 This story is very reminiscent of Dune's intricate character weave but relying more on a god system that seems based a bit in Christianity and mythology using angels at the base. I can't claim to follow this religion as it seems a bit confusing at times but I understand enough to get through the story. 
 SPOILERS to previous book 
 Phedre, now the Comtesse de Montreve, has learned of a traitor in her Queen's mist by the return of her tell tale cloak that was taken on her last encounter with the traitor Melisande Shahrizai. Her cloak is a challenge for Melisande to figure out who the traitor among them is. 
 Phedre rises to the challenge with Joscelin and Phedre's Boys at her side. 
 The achingly slow romance between Joscelin and Phedre is struggling as Joscelin tries to come to terms with breaking his oaths to the Cassieline Brotherhood. 
 The story is packed with adventure, intrigue, and a web of deceit that is sometimes hard to follow and no always worth the effort, though the lingering feelings between Joscelin and Phedre made it enough. And the constant adventure pushed me through. 
 I can't say this is the best story but it grabs the attention much like Dune.