Like The Justice of Kings, this was a lot of fun and at a certain point unputdownable. But I’d also say this volume was kind of harrowing because it feels like bad news after bad news.

This one has a “case” as a focus point like the first book, but that’s resolved-ish in the first half and then the book shifts focus to Claver and concerns about Vonvalt’s sickness. There’s lot of foreshadowing that things get worse (TOO much foreshadowing since it starts to get repetitive, but I’m braced for some tragedy for sure). The scope also gets bigger as the group arrives in Sova and gets involved at a higher level.

I really enjoy how Swan writes some of the quieter, character focused dialogue. There are conversations between Helena, Bressinger, and Radomir (sometimes all together, sometimes one on one with Helena) that highlight their friendship and struggles in really lovely ways. It doesn’t go to extremes as books often do, leaning too safe and precious or too argumentative and angry, but instead finds a middle ground. For me that makes it feel more authentic. I’m just sad we don’t get more of it. It's also disappointing that Vonvalt doesn’t get more of that type of dialogue, but he’s kind of at a distance in this volume.

Speaking of Vonvalt, it was harder to ship him and Helena in this one because of his behavior. I’m not sure what to think of them or what to expect for them because the story isn’t quite fitting familiar patterns or tropes for a romance. That’s kind of refreshing, but it’s also making me lose my footing. I can’t get a read on whether I should root for it or not, honestly. I kind of still do because it’s fun, but in reality I feel like I’d be warning Helena away from Vonvalt.