Wolf Hall was pretty wonderful, but Bring Up the Bodies is better. While the first book in the series lingered on some detail that didn't propel the story (but was nice to have anyway) the sequel is much more trim and efficient.

The larger improvement, though, is the developing character of Cromwell. Magnificently calculating and (seemingly) dispassionate in the first, in this volume Cromwell exerts the same will and masterful manipulation with the addition of considerably more passion. It's humanizing.

I hate getting bogged down in series fiction and avoid it whenever I can. But I am eager for the third entry.