Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

So, finished the book ages ago - OK, like a week or two - but never got around to writing this up because, frankly, it completely slipped my mind. My bad.

This one really was better than the first, and that's even after I'd spoiled the bit about Melisande marrying Benedictine by reading the character summaries in the beginning of the next book. I think that it may have been easier and more enjoyable to read because I didn't have to constantly recheck the character descriptions. Plus, I thoroughly enjoyed the further development of Phedre and Joscelin's relationship. Anyway, the real plot of the story is that they go on a search for Melisande. Well, Phedre does and Joscelin protects and serves as usual.