I actually found the Level 2 Voidwoken Turtles (party level 1) to be harder that the Level 3 Saltwater Crocodiles (party level 2) because the Turtles like to spread cursed surfaces. Of course I might have be a bit prejudiced since I had a fire mage main character and they spread oil all over the place.
I really don't like the AoE Fear on the Crocodiles, though. Unless you've geared your party with magic armor AND have some of it left, that can be devastating. My first attempt at the crocs I had 1 dead and one at 1 HP while my team was in okay shape. Then Horrific Scream happened and my party was wiped without me getting another chance to act.
I like that skillbooks are reduced in price, they are far more affordable now, and I was able to pick up a few of them before getting inside the fort.
I do think that experience is tighter than it should be. I missed out on some by failing to intervene with Elohdi immediately, and another quest by not playing with the child in the grotto (I'm a lizard mage, what do I know about the games of human children?). I'm trying to figure out where I can scrape up enough to reach level 3. Most enemy encounters are level 3 or 4 and quite difficult.
I almost reached level 3 after finishing the Arena, but I'm still a little short, and I'm not sure what quests are still remaining in the prison for someone who didn't pick Pet Pal at the start (can't pick it now as the second Talent point is level 4). Maybe I have yet to help Gawin? If I have, I might want to fight some Silent Monks to get the needed XP. They have been toned down in XP a lot, which I approve of, as they were too easy to dispatch before and thus worth too much XP for their difficulty.
