4.5 stars

tw: off screen suicide and some brief suicidal ideation; body horror

This book takes place 3 years after the first book, and is less an action packed sequel and more a sequel about found family, choices, innovation, and the collective. The magical/technological concept of scriving is much more of a focus in this book, and those concepts do slow it down a bit at times. But, the villain and the conflicts he brings up are outstanding. Also the found family and f/f romance feels in here are so strong. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I am excited to see what the finale brings.