Way to ruin a good set of characters. Oathbound was a fine book. This sequel would have been a lot better if Lacking hadn't thrown in her two favourite cliches. First cliche- two characters fall in love with each other, but spend eight angst-filled chapters weeping because they are sure the other character won't like them. Second cliche- the characters discuss what they would do if a terribly unlikely thing were to occur, and amazingly enough- it happens in the next chapter! And the world is saved because they remembered what they decided they would do! Give me a break.