it's just boring! although, to be fair, I fully expected that. I just read it so that I could read The Winner's Crime, which seemed to be much better. doesn't mean I can't complain! Similar to Throne of Glass: too much concentration on the romance, not enough on the actually interesting parts (the spying, the poisoning, the intrigue). but the ending suggests some possibly more mature romance in the next book, so I'm going to forge ahead!