The sequel to A Conjuring of Ravens, A Binding of Blood continues right where the last book left off. Which was good because I thought the last book ended far too abruptly. We’re right back into the swing of things with Siobhan desperately trying to keep her identity secret and still pay off both her debt and study hard enough to pass all her classes.

The series describes itself as hard fantasy and it is. There’s lots of in depth discussions and lessons at the University about the nature of magic and the world. It might be a little stodgy for some but I really enjoyed it. It’s the kind of detail and world building that I like to lose myself in.

What I really loved in this book though was the sheer level of ridiculous misunderstandings that go on. Damien has entirely the wrong idea about Sebastien, of course, but it’s entertaining just how far he takes it. The mythos of the Raven Queen is spreading and the hysteria around her is reaching untold heights. Meanwhile Siobhan is wandering through all this completely oblivious to the actual effect she’s having. She wasn’t even aware that she was officially Lacer’s apprentice until an amazingly long way through this book. The phrase ‘a comedy of errors’ has never seemed so apt.

Apart from that the book gives you everything you loved about the first one. Sebastien and Damien have a closer relationship, whether Sebastien wants it or not, Oliver is still scheming in entertaining ways and things are just carrying on. It’s a fun read.

Unfortunately one of my main complaint of the previous novel also applies here. It still ends way too abruptly. It just stops. After a suitably dramatic moment but I was still caught by surprise and left a little unsettled.