Honestly, these books just keep getting better.

A Traitor in Skyhold marks a big expansion in the scope of the series. While before a lot of the world beyond the books was hinted at, now they start having an effect. The first book was all about Skyhold and the second was all about Teras Tel but in this one, while it is once again set solely in Skyhold, the effect of other nations and interests are both seen and felt. Whether it’s the arrival of one of Sabae’s family members, offhand introductions to different ambassadors or just people leaving and coming back we’re really starting to feel in the middle of a living world. The worldbuilding was great in the first book, with great and powerful creatures mentioned in Galvachren’s Bestiary but here there’s references to meeting some of them and that all builds upon the framework already laid out.

The story is great as well, of course. As the title suggests there’s a traitor in Skyhold and it’s up to our favourite foursome, Hugh, Talia, Sabae and Godrick, to work out who it is. Or at least try to.

If there’s one complaint that some other people may level at these books it’s that John Bierce really likes building things up. The main characters develop a lot in this book, both personally and in their capabilities. It’s also, you know, a school so there’s a lot of lessons in various things. Personally I adore all of this but I know that some other people might feel differently.

Even if you don’t like the occasional slow pace, the ending makes up for it. It all comes to a fantastic finish, where we can really see what our heroes are now capable of. There’s a lot of action and it’s described well. And then the next book, and in a lot of ways the rest of the series, is nicely set up.

While not my favourite of the series, A Traitor in Skyhold is a lot of fun to read and even more fun to pour over. I love it and it leads into the one that really might be my favourite.