In true book-two-of-a-trilogy fashion, this was not quite as good as book one but definitely sets the stage for book three. El's character development was a through line of the plot. The romance was very teenage and brief (yay). We also learn a lot about the power and magic system as well as the school itself. Also yet another cliffhanger. I wish we could have gotten a bit more information on El's mom's warning but I could have missed it.