I was looking forward to finally meeting Prince Alberon after reading about him in the previous two books. But when we meet him it is instantly clear that Alberon is no longer a boy, but rather a harsh and somewhat unhinged young man who is sure of his power as Crown Prince. To be honest, I was disappointed in Alberon's character: he had too many mood swings and generally made me uncomfortable.
The other characters are also changed in the book because of the re-introduction of courtly life. Razi's quiet strength is subdued because he is playing advisor to his...
