Instruct: Classify a review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: Stronger than first book in the series...

I have to admit that I am really regretting my decision to re-read this fantasy series. I have yet to discover why I liked it as a child, and frankly, now that I know that none of the questions and issues raised in the last book (this is the second book in the sort of prequel series), I am having an even more difficult time just reading them. This particular installment was more entertaining thanThe Dragon's Touchstone (Dragon Nimbus History), but the action and plot still move very slowly. The characters have not become more realistic, either.