3.5 stars. i have so much to say about this
first, i didn't like the romance as much as i thought i would. in the first book i thought it was going to be a slow-burn, so jumping into it head-first in this book saying they had been pining and in love since they first met seemed a little rushed, but i didnt mind that (and it turned out to be the least of their problems). i loved the beginning, but as it progressed it just got complicated and weird. the way this story line was resolved was so so weird and off-putting, i dont even know what to make of it. it was also really vulgar just for the sake of being vulgar and, like, edgy.
that said, i absolutely loved every other part of this book. it totally delivered on all of the potential from the first book. i normally hate action sequences in books and find them hard to follow and boring, but these were really really well done. they were super cool and exciting and i would recommend this book based on them alone. the sci fi/futuristic aspects of this were incredible and fascinating as well. and the ending was totally amazing. every page dropped my jaw again and again for the entire last quarter of the book. i cant wait to read the next one and explore this universe even more!
(originally i rated this 4.5 stars but the way the last book turns out really soured me on the whole series)
(tw for gore and intense violence pretty much throughout (its sort of camp if that makes a difference) and attempted sexual assault around 60%/pg 210, referenced multiple times after)

while the actual ending was good I had some issues with most of the second half of the book....................