Sequel that lives up to Bear and the Nightingale. It's always hard for me to judge a sequel in the middle of a series. All any sequel needs to do is keep me going in the series, & any judgments I might have will only come out when I'm reading the last book in the series. I would say that The Girl in the Tower surpasses that (admittedly low) bar by quite a bit. It kept me guessing, without seeming contrived. I liked all of the historical and legendary references. It makes me want to read up on the history some more. Also illustrates well how gender rules that limit what women do & where they go, also limit what they can imagine. Suggests that rigid gender rules/roles help gender transgressors pass as normal, because who can imagine a woman stepping out of her role, let alone doing so and appearing as a man?