The book started off with a lot of promise for character exploration and workd-building in terms of the politics but it stagnated after the 1/3rd mark on both fronts. The political plot & romance plot didn't work well together though it could have. I would have easily given this book a 3.5 if the exact series of events took place over a much, much longer time period.
Spoilers: all of the events from the meeting between the protagonists take place in 7 days. That's too short.