I liked the beginning of the book as it brought back elements of the last book that I love, however about 75% in I almost wanted to just stop completely. Ceony seemed to turn into this pathetic, whinny, love sick know-it-all girl. It was disgusting. I hate to see a strong heroine in a book just be reduced to something like this.

Ceony does something dangerous and makes a mistake that puts people in danger and yet she gets all sulky when people get upset. I almost left it on the DNR list, but I powered through.

There is a third and final installment however with how Ceony turned in this one I wonder how she would be in the third book The Master Magician. She need to just understand she is still an apprentice, she doesn't even know all the spells of her craft. I honestly didn't mind the unfurling romance between Ceony and Emery in the beginning. I thought it was cute (even if she is technically his student), but it seemed that it made Ceony not be able to trust that Emery can take care of himself and caused her to make rash and wrong decisions. This book was not horrible by any means however you could say I may be over reacting.

I am going to have to think about reading the third book, I almost feel like I have to.