For some bizarre reason I reread this. I'm thinking that I remembered how much I liked Bitterblue and then wanted to go back and reread this. 
 Bad idea, Ing. Bad idea. 
 Before I reread this book, I still thought I liked it. After I reread this book, I knew that there was no way I liked this (though I still like Bitterblue.) 
 Why don't I like this? 
 1. The writing feels very stilted. The sentences have an ever so slightly immature voice, and the dialogue is unnatural. 
 2. The characters were childish... except for the one who is actually a child and acts nothing like a child ever. Though she was one of my favourites of the characters. 
 3. I don't like being preached to, even when I don't disagree with the message. I don't disagree with feminism. I just don't like it preached in my face. I do, however, feel uncomfortable with sex without any real commitment. 
 Why I do still kind of like it: 
 1. I like the world. The seven kingdoms, the descriptions of the places, and especially Lienid. 
 2. The fact that the third book in this series is actually quite good.