The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

Jillian’s Review:

It's been two years and about 200 books since I read the second book in this series and I was lost half the time because Chima doesn't reference past characters, especially the obscure ones, well. It was annoying to be 3/4 of the way through and still have side characters mentioned that I had no idea who they were or what they'd done in past novels.

The story itself was interesting and I was grateful to only have to read from two different POV (it seems like the first two novels were written in several different POV, but I could be remembering incorrectly). I enjoyed it fairly well, but I think half the book could have been cut and it would have made for a better read. Some of the descriptions were unnecessarily long (e.i. it took nearly a full paragraph to describe a character braiding his hair). It was interesting enough that I lost a couple good nights of sleep because I couldn’t put it down.

I'm glad to see the princess heir has learned a lot from the past two books, yet I can't fathom why she would still be willing to kiss every guy who shows interest in her. And I really would like to know more about what's happening to her poor, little sister, but maybe that's because I was the youngest and was picked on, too! ;)

Yet another in this series without a proper ending, one major event resolved but nothing else. I most seriously hope that everything will finally be resolved in the fourth and final book, The Crimson Crown, dated to come out October 23, 2012.