You know that super rare feeling where a sequel is as awesome as the first book in a series? Where it doesn't suffer from that "second book slump"? Such a unicorn, right? WELL. It happens here, friends! After the amazing twistiness that was This Mortal Coil, I was kiiiind of unsure if the author could replicate such amazing plot twists and surprises. Could she keep the characters developing and still likable? She sure could, and she did!
Sequel reviews are hard, because you don't want to give away anything about the sequel of course, but nor do you want to give anything away about its predecessors. So I am going to talk, in the vaguest of terms, about the junk I loved:
- •More information on the post- (and pre-) virus world. Lots of details that I was yearning for in the last book have come to light- and I know there are more to come. The author manages to give just enough information to satisfy, while still leaving you excited for whatever she throws at you next. And I love it.
- •Not only is there character growth, but relationship growth. Cat has to redefine a lot of how she sees herself after the events in the last book. But she also has to transform, grow, rebuild (and in some cases, begin) lots of relationships. I loved watching how the characters navigated all the changes, and all the new things they themselves learned about their world and the people around them.
- •Incredibly high stakes. It's the sort of series where no one and nothing feels safe. At any moment, the rug can be pulled out from under any character it seems, and so I was always on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome, but terrified for the worst. Definitely tons of good tension.
- •Again, I was so shocked by so many things in this book! Honestly, I am hard to shock at this point. So when the author somehow manages to do it over and over, and in really quality ways that make sense in the story... it's impressive, to say the least.
Bottom Line: Someone give me book 3 immediately. Please? Waiting is hard.