I AM FINALLY ON BOARD.

For some reason I enjoyed this way more than book 1. I think it came down to the fact that this book made realise how great Magnus is.
He's not a goofy loveable-idiot like Percy is. He's an open-minded educated and respectful kid - and that actually makes him loveable in a deeper way.
He speaks ASL, he is SO respectful of people practising other religions, SO respectful of people defying the gender binary. If he doesn't know, he asks, and he understands, and he respects. And he loves his found-family like no other...

The secondary characters I had loved in book 1 are still great. And the addition of Alex Fierro made the dynamics even better. She fit into the story perfectly! Her (female pronouns unless she says otherwise) identity is brilliantly handled - especially for a middle grade novel.

I can't wait to read book 3 and fall even more in love with them all... If that's even possible.