This would've been a four star for me if it were not for Radu's consistent pining and whining about Mahmed. I do love both of the main characters, but for all of Radu's gained strength over the first book, it was extremely grating and saddening that he was such a slave to his obsession with Mahmed. I understand that some people can be like this, but it was practically all that his chapters went on about and it drove me bananas. I hope that the third book will be better in that regard.