This book feels like an adventure within an adventure series. Daine goes to the help of the wolf pack who took her in when bandits killed her family and uncovers a plot against the crown. She meets up with friends along the way and they try to stop the plot.

Ok. I'm beginning to wonder how Pierce will mature this arc. Daine almost has god-like abilities at this point. Everything comes so easy to her and it seems like she never has to sacrifice anything or live with consequences of any missteps (which feels very different from Pierce's Alanna quartet). I'm hoping the third and fourth installments really start advancing the Carthaki plot against Tortall, and I hope we begin to see some of Diane's limitations or faults.

At this point I'm committed to finishing the series, but on the whole it's been a disappointment thus far.