The City of Zirdai picks up soon after the first book, with Shyla rebuilding the Invisible Swords. I enjoyed the first book, and enjoyed this just as much. Going back down into Zirdai, the Invisible Swords need to make themselves as independent as they can, from the city and from the monks, lest they put them in danger.

I thought for the most part, it was well done. I enjoyed seeing how Shyla would resolve the problems facing her, both as an individual and as the leader of a secret organisation.

My one main issue with this would be that the pacing was fairly rapid, essentially meaning that the story doesn't lull as much as others can. While this would usually be a good things, a lot is happening constantly here, and the story tends to jump from one plot line to the other in quick succession. In doing so, I felt that some of the plot elements that were being developed, specifically in regards to rebuilding the Invisible Swords, didn't actually eventuate, and were to a degree unnecessary. It's not that they needed to be removed necessarily, more that they could have been introduced and developed in a different way, so that they were more points of interest rather than plot points.

Without giving too much away, it was in regards to the relocation and reconstruction of the Invisible Swords base, with ideas being developed, but not actually being actioned, which fair the story is in a limited time. But I feel construction could have at least been started, since time was taken to explore solutions.

In saying that though, I really enjoyed this, and look forward to reading more. If you have read the first one, definitely continue on with the series. If you have read and enjoyed anything else Maria V. Snyder has written, it's worth picking up this series as well.

ARC copy received

Many thanks for this arc! Overall this was a very action packed sequel, that once again is filled with a lot of sand and politics. Shylah is still the very epitome of Maria V Snyder female protagonists - she's determined to get things done and she'll do it her way. I do like the first book better, but this one was just as good, even though the ending felt like a satisfactory ending rather than leading onto the next book - which, yay! there will be one more!

this series from Maria just keeps getting better and better. Am really looking forward to book #3 in the series.