Ah, should've expected it, but still a disappointment how much the story stalls in this one. Well, happens to the best too (Song of Ice and Fire from Crows onward, anyone?). Increasing the number of sex scenes doesn't really take the narrative forward--although it might attract new pubescent readers. Well, I'll probably wnat to see the story to the end, the first installment was very good for a high fantasy novel, anyway.

Re the audio version: the reader is worse than the previous one, but not *that* bad. The narration bits are actually quite good at times, but he does ruin the dialogue by making Arlen sound like a retarded Arkansas cowboy. Hence the two stars.