This one hit a little bit of middle book slump, but I still love the magic system and world.  A lot of time is spent exploring the political ramifications of the upheaval at the end of book 1, and while I definitely appreciated it, the way it was tackled felt a little repetitive. The character development for all the POV characters felt very natural and realistic, though I did find myself wishing for just a little more frank communication. Overall, it was an engaging read, and I'll definitely finish the series soon. If for nothing else, for Mephi. I love him.