At first this book didn’t seem much better than the first other than the fact that there was less Midas and less rape threats. 

It was definitely slow paced, slow burn, and not much happened exactly. Where book one seems to have a lot of action, this one seemed to be a lot of well… waiting. 

I wouldn’t have minded so much if I didn’t fine Auren to be so frustrating most of that time as well. I understand her Stockholm Syndrome, but she can be really DAFT sometimes. I feel like it was used to push the plot often which was annoying. 

I did really love all the new characters we got though. Keg, Lu, Judd, Heigel (?). I love the way she can make people like her reluctantly. 

I was disappointed by the other “saddles” and how much they shunned her despite all her kindness. I don’t like Rissa. I think there is a lot of internalized sexism. All these other female characters hate Auren even though it’s Midas they should hate. Ugh it’s disgusting and infuriating to read. 

I could not stand the switches to the alt Queen’s POV either. I found it very disruptive and boring. I want to sympathize with her but her hatred for Auren and the way she treated the peasants was disgusting as well. 

However, I’m still hooked. That ending caught me so off guard I don’t know how I didn’t realize it was coming! I thought this was going the love triangle route but DAMNN IM SHOOKETH. 

Overall I have high hopes for Auren’s character now that she’s had a break through and hopefully this slow burn can do some real burning in book THREE!!