Once again, the changing POVs to build onto this world where Death Cast exists is such a strong point to this novel. I really enjoyed the B-plot for this one. I applaud Silvera for how he writes about hope in an authentic way. However, something that would have added to Orion & Val for me that was in the first book was how Rufus and Mateo changed. All four want to live more in the time they have, but the first novel goes into a bit more depth about how they hold themselves back from that goal. Overall, this was such a gripping read. I steer clear of titles I know are going to be sad, but I really appreciate how it’s handled in this series.

I really enjoyed the setup of this mystery of The Hole. The characters were intriguing enough to make me care, but there was so much more I was hoping would be explored in reference to their relationship to one another. They each had such interesting storylines that fell flat and took away from the impact of the mystery occurring. I know it's a novella, but it was a very ambitious structure when considering how short this was intended to be.

I was apprehensive going into this because I hold Heartless Hunter in such high regard. However, Rebel Witch was just as scrumptious as the first book. Initially, I felt the world building was going to the wayside, but there were narrative seeds planted along the way that made the conclusion feel well-earned. The banter had me kicking my feet, but the deeper connection with Rune and Gideon was truly moving.

I was not expecting this novella to earn 5 stars for me, but it won me over quickly. Not only did it expand on my favorite character, but it told a complete story with action, love, and trickery. I was expecting the short stories to be disconnected yet purposeful to Cardan’s development. That was not the case, which made me invested into this mini-adventure I felt I was tagging along for. The illustrations were stunning. I almost didn’t want to turn the page at times because I wanted to sit with the images for a moment.