Like the other books in this series, this one felt uneven. Shinn's work is always extremely readable and her fantasy worlds are delightfully imaginative. I also enjoyed both Hope and Jordan.

Buuuut Hope is a newborn, so inexperienced and innocent, and the way-too-quick romance felt really wrong as a result. I see why Hope might have a crush on Jordan - he is basically written as the Perfect Prince - but it really feels like Jordan is robbing the cradle here.

I did enjoy the politics and how the larger story unfolded over the course of the trilogy, even if the ending felt a bit forced.