2.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one wasn't quite as good. The main problem is the pacing, which is fantastic for the first third and last third of the book, but really lagged in the middle. There were times when I was reading that I was frustrated with how hard it was for me to stay focused and interested to the point where I though about not finishing it. I really liked the overall plot, even if it was a little predictable at times, it just needed to be paced better and written in a more engaging way. I do like the fairytale like writing, but that kind of writing only works for me if something interesting is happening.

I generally liked the characters, but I was sometimes irritated with Vasya and her refusal to listen to Sasha and Olga or at least recognize that they know more about the politics and social expectations of Moscow. I know they don't always listen to her either, but she also lies to them about how and why she left home. Vasya waiting so long to tell them the truth also irritated me because the discussion about religion in the first book could have been extended in a really interesting way if we got to se how Sasha and Olga process what Vasya claims in the context of their Christian beliefs competing with their desire to believe their sister. I really liked Sasha and Olga as characters, but I wanted to see how this conflict between religion and family panned out for them and it could have been something to explore in the middle of the book where the plot slows down so much. The discussion of religion was also one of my favorite parts of the first book so I was disappointed there wasn't much of it in this one. Vasya's actions with Olga at the end also really bothered me.

Even though there were things I didn't like, I still really like the world, the ways the politics and magic work, and the historical accuracy. I also liked the villain in this better than the first one and that the stakes are higher. The other side characters and antagonists are interesting as well. Despite my frustration with this book I might still at least try to read the next one in the series because I want to know what happens next and some of the things I didn't like about The Girl in the Tower could be resolved in the next book.