This book is a bridge from the opening book (The Ambassador's Mission) to the final book (The Traitor Queen). The story that link these two book flows a bit slow. Sometimes I think it can be shortened a bit, makes it a bit less boring. Some plots in the main story line still so cryptic and made me confuse. I hope they will be answered in the final book.
The other story plot that just risen in this book might continue in the next one and become its own strong plot, hopefully. But the ending of this book left me unsatisfied; two cliff-hangers felt too much.
I know I'm hoping so much for the next book and really hope I won't be disappointed.