OK, so I just finished the book. I didn't clock my time, but I started on Thursday afternoon and finished early this morning (about 1:30 am). I thought is was good, but not my favorite of the series. I suppose I still like the more "innocent" tone of the first book and some of the friction between characters in this one got a little old. It wasn't as "dark" as I feared (I don't know why I keep taking reviews so seriously), and honestly I enjoyed the political friction. I won't say any more so as to ruin the story, but it's a good read.