Full review on my blog December 10th 2020: https://inkandplasma.com/2020/12/10/cute-mutants-vol-2/

This book really kicked this series into high gear. If I thought the first book was intense, I had no idea what was coming for me. It just makes me *more* excited for volume 3 though (which is currently sat in my inbox, but I needed to review this before I let myself devour it. Cute Mutants Volume 2 definitely begins to develop the wider implications of people becoming powered. We find out more about the world, and that there are more mutants out there. We also get to find out more about the corporations that we met in the first book. I don't want to dip into any spoilers, but SHOCKER governmental corporations suck. A lot of my favourite things from my first review (which you can read here) were still just as relevant in this one, and it shows a kind of consistency that puts SJ Whitby firmly on my favourite authors (and auto-buy) list. How often do we get a sequel that doesn't just hold up to the first one, but is even better? I can't wait to see how SJ keeps improving and I will definitely be along for the ride. Again Volume 2 felt like a complete arc so I felt like we had a satisfying ending, but with enough left to make me want to keep reading. I'm glad I had volume 3 coming so soon, the wait until April for volume 4 is going to be PAINFUL, but I trust that SJ will keep things tied up beautifully - and it'll be worth the wait.

I loved the character development in this book and the new characters we met. The characters are perfect; they struggle with right and wrong and good and evil, it brings me a lot of joy to watch them develop not only their powers but also their sense of responsibility. The new mutants added to the roster are equally interesting, their powers just as complicated and intense as the Cute Mutants and I already know I'm going to have a new favourite superpower couple. Our old favourites are still here and I liked seeing them grow into a stronger team with every single mission. It feels like their powers start to evolve during Volume 2 and that is super exciting to me because I really want to see how much further they go (okay I also want them to get OP and kick ass, but that's just me). Dani and Dylan's relationship is still new and shiny and watching them navigate it kind of makes me want to scream into a pillow - which I'm pretty sure Pillow agrees with. But my *favourite* new relationship? Dylan and Oni! Oni!!!!!! Love of my life, I can't wait to see what chaotic nonsense Oni comes up with in the next book. And *yes* a sentient katana is allowed to be my favourite character, when they come with as much personality as SJ Whitby manages to give the sentient objects

In my review of Volume 1, I talked about tone a little, and I stand by the fact that SJ Whitby has pitch-perfect tone. This book is definitely darker than Volume 1 which feels right, things are harder and the intensity has gone up, but we still have those witty moments that made me laugh out loud at my book. There's also still that strong element of queer joy that I *loved* in Volume 1. Yes, there's trauma here and *yes* unfortunately there is death (I am so mad, SJ, I am still so mad) but I didn't leave this book miserable. Reading left me feeling empowered and excited and a little like I wanted to set fire to our stupid cisnormative, heteronormative universe. I have a lot of respect for a book that can make me want to cry and laugh at the same time. Again the plot is incredible, well supported by the tone and the characters, but again I'm not going to get into it too much. I don't want to spoil things - you can all suffer through the same stress I did.

The Cute Mutants series is, to me, a MUST BUY, and I will not stop screeching until everyone I know is reading it.