Ahoy there me mateys!  This was a satisfying second book in the series which was hampered a bit by the slow pacing and the subplot of a missing prince.  I didn't find the book boring or anything.  It just took a while for the pieces to connect and I kept waiting for the characters to make discoveries that this reader suspected.

This book takes place in the capital city of the Empire, Sova.  Helena is back to telling the story of the decline of the empire and where her boss Justice Konrad Vonvalt fits into the political machinations.  I continued to enjoy the four main characters of her group.  Helena is still the favorite and I still loved the story being told from her perspective.  Bressinger and Sir Radomir are excellent characters.  I was bit less enamored of Vonvalt this go around but can't get into the whys because of spoilers.  There was nothing particularly wrong with the plot but it is the relationships between the characters and how they develop in the book that I enjoyed the most.

The slow pacing eventually turned into a rather dramatic last quarter and finale.  Claver has become an excellent villain and the magic consequences were used to great effect once he is back in the action.  Helena in battle was so very enjoyable.  And I want more of the monster dog.  

Where the characters end up by the end of the novel makes me seriously want the next in the series.  It is supposedly out in 2024.  Arrrr!