This book is all kinds of fun, and the worldbuilding remains a bright spot in this sequel. Some of the new characters introduced in this book were delightful, and it was fun to see even more of the vibrant world Ifueko created. Tarisai continues to be a character for whom I would give my life, and I would definitely pick up more books with her starring, even if this was just a duology.

Unfortunately, however, the execution of this book was only somewhat better than the first, so it's still more fun than it is well-written. The prose itself did not distract me, but at times, the pacing, sense of time, and sense of direction were off enough that I really wasn't sure where we were headed or why. There were also some missed opportunities to get to know some of the new characters better or to enjoy time with characters from book one. Additionally, the sexual undertones of a book with pretty much all of the main cast being under 18, some as young as 14 if I remember correctly, made me a little uncomfortable. Certainly, sex is a fact of life for teenagers, but as an adult, I don't enjoy reading about the sexual feelings of a minor when it's portrayed in a less-than-clinical way. Perhaps I would not have been bothered if I still were a minor.

Nevertheless, if you can look past some of the storycraft issues, it's this book—this duology—is so much fun.