The second installment continues largely from the first. It follows the now king's life and thoughts very much like a diary.
However this book has a stronger plot with the war starting and ending. All the consequences, betrayals, deaths, secrets and conspiracies that are wrapped up in the story are explored and add depth and excitement to the book.
This is a different type of setting, set in an alternate universe on another planet with Earth/Humans seen as the enemy, it's more sci-fi but enough fantasy elements to keep me engaged as well. It's a political-lite book but not to its detriment.