I read the first book but I've only seen the more recent movies. This one really seems like little more than building up for the larger confrontation to come. Some parts felt arbitrary. There must be some rhyme and reason to the magic, some rules that make some things difficult or impossible but if those limits and rules exist, they are unclear. It often seems a mystery that powerful magic can do something such as put a house in order or compel one to love but all problems can't be solved by magic. I have no doubt the books clarify a lot of that, but without the background of the books, the limitations feel arbitrary and as a result, the plot seems absurd.