I'm not sure I liked this one better than the first book in the series, but it was still good. It was a little more slow-paced than I thought it would be, but it is actually kind of an in-between book with another cliff-hanger at the end. The slow parts in the beginning don't really take away from the story either, they just lend to strengthening the camaraderie between the Herons and it was fun to watch Thorn train them. I'm still not quite sure what I think about Lydia. I almost felt that she didn't really have to be necessary. "The Outcasts" did well enough without a lead female role, I think we could have done without one in this book too, but that's my opinion. I was also a little disappointed that Hal and Tursgud didn't get to meet again in this book and settle their problem once and for all, but I bet that will come later. Zavac on the other hand is seriously a great pirate and a worthy villain. He's cold and evil and yet he manages to not be cliche. Now I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series, and I hope it's not too long before it comes out!