Okay, so I get why some reviewers have given the sequel less stars than the first. At times reading the plot developments felt purposeless and random, but I think that’s because this sequel doesn’t begin with one problem but instead with multiple.

So, when the blood emperor is defeated

Ikenna still has to get revenge, save the republic, and resolve all that happened in book 1.  Book 1 had a simpler problem than this one.

I liked that the plot continued after the blood emperor died

because the plot became a bit more interesting and seems to set up another series, I hope. This is a five star duology for me