It was helpful to remember that the first book reminded me strongly of A:TLA because the second book...did not give me any reason to reevaluate that assessment. I quite enjoyed it, although every time I read a book that is based on historical revolutions and that involve magic, I keep feeling slightly demoralized because sometimes it feels like the magic is integral to fixing the world and, at least as far as I can tell, there is no magic in our world.

This was another instance of a book that ended on a cliffhanger and so, when it picked up right where it had left off, I remembered nothing whatsoever about the first book and could really have used a reminder about, for one thing, who knew and loved whom. I caught up eventually, but it was disorienting. 
Still, one does appreciate a good femininominon and this book certainly has that.