This was an excellent continuation from book 1, but I think it lost me on a few things (but also my heart was racing and I WAS STRESSED during some scenes so like... I'm conflicted??

- I love the push and pull of Oraya x Raihn throughout the first half of this book. The tension from book 1 really said "watch me" and gave us this beauty
- I don't love the sappy dependence on each other, like Raihn kinda became a lost puppy for a while. But overall it was okay, just random moments that had me wanting more of something.
- The actual plot was moving moving moving and I felt like I barely caught my breath sometimes before the next thing was happening. But like... that's what I want, so thank you.
- I did not love Vincent's ever present voice in Oraya's head. Like he's gone, can he please be forreal gone? He's not actually helpful to anything (until the moment in the ruins, that was cool).
- Despite my complaint of Vincent's voice, I do love the constant battle of grief built upon years of hidden truths and betrayals. It really made Oraya feel more real, her decisions felt more believable, because they were built on human emotions and struggles.
- "There she is"
^^^ idk I loved this and my heart did a little flutter every time
- I do like the incorporation of side characters, I even could have liked some more focus on some of them in the overall objective of the book, but we got so much more information in this and I loved it.
- I want more understanding of the state of Simon at the end. Wtf was actually happening with him and why was it just *poof* solved? I thought I missed a page when Oraya saved the day and then suddenly everything was fixed?
- Did Oraya get those specially crafted dual blades just to not actually use them??