Almost as good as the first one, but I could do without the forced love triangle. This series is rather heavy on the time skips. Even when factoring that in, both romances still seem forced.
Alanna remains a great deal of fun, and her companions are too. We gain more knowledge about the world and the politics of the era. Moreover, a talking cat always brings good entertainment. There is more conflict in this book compared to the first one, which effectively helps to推进 the plot.
I'm hoping that the next installment will deviate from the love triangle, as the end suggests it might. This would allow for a more engaging and natural storyline to unfold. I'm looking forward to seeing how the author develops the characters and the plot further in the next book.