It's been a while since I read the first Ylandre book, but I seem to recall being affected by it more than I was this story. It's not quite a retelling of the same tale, but it is a similar caste of society situation that keeps them from being happily together until the end. The intrigues were different, but it still often comes down to politics vs. love. And love wins in the end. 
 I do have to say I was pleased by the fact that the reader wasn't told the secret of Dylen's birth at the same time Dylen was. The secret came out in due course from Dy's own mouth. I was quite prepared for the cliche "secret lost with time is revealed at the end" for the HEA, but that is not what happened. Yay! The revelation of that secret toward the middle actually drove much of the story and angst between Rio and Dy. That was a pleasant surprise. 
 I enjoyed it and will read the next in the series at some point.