These are very intense books - the first one was so gripping I couldn't put it down. Same with this one. I was braced for a lackluster sequel, but this one was just as good.

Schwab is an excellent writer, I have one nitpick for this book: Sometimes I thought my goodness, the protagonist has all these boys falling all over her while she looks like a battered car crash survivor... it was a little hard to suspend belief for all the impressions she made on boys while still accepting that she was a) completely exhausted, b) stitched up, bleeding, bruised, and broken, and c) going to crazy town being haunted in her dreams. Seriously? Guys are really going for that drained, pasty, sixteen stitches look? What's the appeal? It would have been a bit more believable, I think, if she hadn't been so readily accepted into the new school's fold - maybe more people thinking she was a nutjob with only the well respected Wes by her side? I don't know.

That said, don't mistake me and think this is a love triangle teen mess, it really isn't. The story itself is kind of incredible, and Owen gets the creep of the year award... and you still feel sorry for him in the end. And I super love Guyliner. The protagonist (why can't I think of her name? And I can't be bothered to look it up) is a strong female lead. She can fight and defend herself, and I really felt for all the secrets she had to keep; it felt impossible and overwhelming, stressful and insane.

She's left enough of a dangle without being annoying to leave things open for a third book, though I can't find any confirmation of such on the author's (kind of terribly organized) website. I'm nervous because she is apparently moving to the UK and starting a master's program. When will she write? Clearly I want to read the next one. She's a good writer, and I like her voice.