It isn't required that you read the first book in the series to understand what's going on in this one, but it does help as there are references to the main characters from the first book. (mainly H/h, big bad)

This one picks up several months after the incidents of the Black Lily. Things seem to have calmed down a bit, but we're still having confrontations and ripples from the events of the first book. What I liked about this book is that you see how the H&h fall deeper into love with each other due to forced proximity and better understanding. There is a "big misunderstanding" that the hero holds about his past, but for all the angst he has it seems to have been brushed away fairly easily. What bothered me is that the heroine, while a perfectly capable human being and somewhat able to help herself is treated to a level of damsel in distress. My brain can accept it because we're dealing with her being a human vs. enhanced vampires, but it does irk me a little that someone who is a significant force (personality, able to inspire others) gets overpowered physically so easily. (this was an issue in the first book as well.) And while she does manage to defend herself a bit, it isn't enough to save herself.

The book does pull off a HFN ending, but leaves many threads in the air...which leads me to hope we'll get to hear what happens to Mina and the battle to come.