** spoiler alert ** 
 It was good and interesting and intriguing. It was a nice setup for the next book and I'm looking forward to it. 
 I was a bit sad about Amicia I liked her as a character from the first book and I'm a bit dissapointed she and Gabriel didn't have a happy ever after but I also like Blanche and happy she's an empress now. 
 It will be interesting to see how these characters develop further and I hope no more of my favorites die.