Customer Reviews
Bit of a let down after book 1 - By: L. W. Gulbrandsen, 30 Jul 2008 
I was a bit disappointed by this book, having liked the first one
The story starts off a few months after the end of book one.
Elend is appointed king & rules the city, while Vin is protecting him & the city from assassins & spies. The Skaa, having won the rebellion & overthrown the lord ruler, is again threatened, this time by a overwhelming nobleman army led by Elend's father, intent on taking the city for himself as the world is in chaos after the Lord rulers demise.
The bulk of the book revolves around the city under siege, with both internal & external politicking, & Vin & Elends relationship.
I found both the politics & military strategies of alll parties involved to be at times both naive & unrealistic, & thought that several of the scenarios seemed poorly thought out.
The romantic problems between Vin & Elend, revolves around them both feeling that the other is too good for them, & that they are too different. This whole part did not engage me at alll, it seemed very contrived & stiff, not to mention unoriginal.
Although the action sequences are still well written, & the story picks up pace & gets exciting at the end, this was overalll a disappointing 2nd book.
It haven't the depth in politics & tactics to compare to other epics fantasy series, & feels a bit shalllow in comparison.
I'll still get the final installlment when it comes in pocket version though.
