This book, while good, was closer to the third than the second in terms of how much I liked it. It's nice that Lynch is not using the same background for the same plot in all his books, but, well, there was no Zamira in this book and that made me sad.
And I found the whole Bondsmagi thing to be a bit...weird/contrived/not as interesting.
Granted, I would stick around for Locke and Jean being Gentlemen Bastards, which remains the high point of the book.
And then there's Sabetha.

I have many feelings about her, not only because she's such a fascinating character, but because I found myself disliking her at first for refusing Locke...basically, for refusing to allow herself to become the male character's reward and to lose her self and sense of self to him. And then I was really annoyed at myself that I have this unconscious bias. So finally getting her perspective helped and everything she says is right. So I came around to that and serious kudos to Lynch for writing a woman who is willing to put her self and career before the needs of a man. And, honestly, another set of kudos for letting Locke let her go like a decent man rather than pitching a fit that he put in niceness coins and sex failed to be dispensed.

So while I enjoyed the book and will keep up with the series, I find myself in the oddest position of liking the middle book the best.