The previous book was full of promise. What made it really exciting, was the huge-big-problem the hero had: he'd fallen from grace, had completely lost all his magical abilities, his standing in the fey world and still managed to avoid the world from collapsing. Sort of.
This book explores more of the world of Connor. Which, in itself, is pretty okay as it's quite a wonderful, imaginative universe. The adventure is interesting, the characters familiar and yet there are still new angles to expand a world-of-promise.
Right. What really, really, really is a pity that we're not progressing on what's wrong with Connor. Not an inch. We're hardly progressing on Connor coming to grips with his downfall. We learn though, that he has a brother. Who he doesn't get along with.
The main story-line is about Connor not letting go, digging deeper into a crime hardly anyone (but one of his few friends) is interested in. The puzzle falls together quite nicely and Connor (of course) ends up being the hero. But the character-tension that made the first book so strong... I've missed it.