I didn't realize I had already read this as part of one of the larger series book. As I was reading I was hoping for a second story, as I was under the impression (for whatever reason) that this was a collection of short stories.
The story is better when it has more context to the larger series, and I prefer novel/first exposure. I rarely reread things due to this, and caught my self skimming. I was disappointed as the ‘surprises' rang less true and my predictions were based more on memory rather than my knowledge of the world and putting together the foreshadowing.
Such as it is when one tries to complete a sereies from their childhood.