I just finished book two. And I totally see what you mean - I kinda feel like he's dragging things out in The Dresden Files while what he's doing in Alera just seems to pop, if that makes sense.

Also, I'm loving Lady Aquitaine - now THAT is a well written villianess. And I'm really itching for more Fade/Isana, because I'm quite curious how the whole coward/stupid thing worked out, because she didn't seem to know who he was in book one (which may have been butcher cheating a bit) and I'm very intrigued to see how that plays out.

And Tavi's the High Lord's grandson, correct?