I liked this a lot less than the first one, but still tore through it. It feels like Nona spends most of this dying for one reason or another, but getting up anyway because of the power of friendship. Meanwhile, a lot of things just happen offscreen. Again, and again. In theory this should be a nice way of showing the world isn't just revolving around the protagonist but I found it a little confusing. Who now has "anger issues" (for reasons) and so is treated with less respect in some ways than the first book.

Meanwhile it feels yet-more young adult. The stakes are raised but there's less swearing and romance is "she feels embarrassed". Now that's pretty much all of the Eddings books, but it feels like a step has been taken back from the start of the first book.