I absolutely adored Anequs and Kasequa in book 1 and that did not change in this second instalment. Following the development of their bond and their respective growth continues to be an enjoyable—often endearing and occasionally comical—ride.

It’s been a long time since I was a teenager, but I think that Anequs is written in a way that is appropriate to her age as she grapples with hormones and rebellion and desire alongside her continued tension with the Anglish world relative to the world she’s known for most of her life. The dynamics between Anequs and her peers are really interesting as the book explores intersectionality in a really interesting way, particularly the question of how headstrong Anequs is and how that doesn’t feel like an option for many of her peers for a variety of reasons depending on their social location.

Moreso than in the first book, I found myself getting lost in what the “equivalents” were between this world and the one we live in. At times, I felt it pulling me out of the story in a noticeable way. That paired with the pace through a large portion of the book did impact my enjoyment to a degree because I was eager to get back to the characters and their experiences, which I think is also a testament to the quality of the writing about the characters themselves.

As the book moved toward its climactic conclusion, the time spent on world building and politics made a lot of sense and I think it ultimately served the broader arc.

Given where this book left off, I’m very much looking forward to the next!