I had a reading epiphany mid book. I finally touched on why I like some YA books and some make me cringe. Looks like I just can't handle first hand narration when we in the head of a young woman.  
 I was a young teenage girl once upon a time, and I really do not want to relive those boy crazy/ overly dramatic thoughts. I would much rather be in the head of someone totally different to me. Seeing events from a different perspective. Instead I am stuck with :  oh I have to fight , my friends relay on me, I must be strong, but oh how wonderful his muscles look in this light, just makes me want to bang my head on the wall.

However, this  book in comparison to its predecessor, was much more in line with my idea of a good YA fantasy. Although we are still in Brie's head, the book is a lot more plot based which helps. 
We  finally get to learn more on a fascinating new magic system - root. 
Brie herself is a lot less annoying as before. I think her growth 
The pacing g is good and we learn every new element of the story in a reasonably organic fashion avoiding exposition. 

If only we could do without the YA angst it would have been a 5 stars, but I am definitely not the target audience.