I enjoyed this book significantly more than The Star King, the first book in the series. I found the story, the settings, and the characters more intriguing and a bit less flat than in the previous book. Even Gersen himself was a bit more likeable. I suppose the romantic subplot serves to show a more amusing side of his character. The book starts pretty slow, but by the time I reached the second half, it was hard for me to put it down. I feel eager to read the next book now.