Unfortunately the issues I had in the first book only worsened in this one. I feel like I really could've enjoyed this series if it just had overall been more condensed, because even in this shorter second book, it felt like comparatively little actually happened. This is only worsened by how repetitive the thoughts of each POV feel at times, where it basically boils down to the same feelings described in a bunch of different ways.

I also just can't fully get on board with the romance anymore because the dynamic just feels too unbalanced for me. I do like that a lot of this book was Sandis trying to find more agency, but Rone didn't really get much better in terms of secrets and lies. I just feel like the power is too unfairly shifted in Rone's favor, and he's aware of this fact and uses it. It's not necessarily villainous, but his redemption is soured by some acts he still commits in this book, and I just couldn't do it anymore.

Again, I really do like the lore that this world is built on, but it's either the fact that we only get sprinkles of it here and there or the way these sprinkles are delivered that just don't fully work for me, and have the impact it should have.

Overall, this series just wasn't for me. The industrial setting and lore usually would have been quite interesting, but the story itself just couldn't hold my interest. I don't think I'll be reading the final book.