The second book of a trilogy is almost always the hardest read, the main thrust of the story is made here and frequently they lack the action of the opener or closer.
However, Part 2 of the Destiny trilogy strikes the balance very well. It does lay down most of the ground work for the final part, but it also stands up itself, with its own action and intrigue. The excellent characters hold through from the first book and it's a compelling read.
The overall stroy remains strong, which is a highlight of the entire series.
Most of all it makes you want to carry on through and read the third book, which I did straight after!