This book is like the average second book in a trilogy. Good, but not as good as the first or last.

I mentioned when I read a certain chapter that the author pushes a certain agenda pretty strongly that I disagree with, but the way it was handled fit with the characters and it (sort of) had purpose to the larger story, so I can appreciate it for what it was. It was still quite overt in its purpose of making a point, but I can't really fault the author for that since he at least did so with thought to the overall story.

While that was part of what made this book less enjoyable than the others, it wasn't the sole reason. I just didn't click overall with this book as well as the previous two. But I have high hopes for the last book! Usually there's just one book in the middle that isn't as satisfying and then the series evens out again, and given the excellence of the first two I expect that to be the case here as well. :)