It has taken me almost four months to slowly make my way through this second book in the Rook & Rose trilogy. This is pretty abnormal reading speed for me, but they're long books, and I don't have an audio version, and (in a complementary way) they are so incredibly complex...the slow roll just really worked for me in this case.And the time was absolutely worth taking, because this was a phenomenal follow-up, no suffering from the "middle book slump" in any way.

This book moves the plot, and character development, soooo much. Even in just the first 100 or so pages, the encounters and reveals had me on my toes and all twisted up. And it just kept going. This book was all about our primary MCs - the Rook and Rose, of course, as well as Ren, Vargo, Grey, Tess, Giuna and Alsius - all developing in their relationships with each other, complicated and secretive as they are, as they realize that they are all really working towards the same goals. Naturally, as they become allies of necessity (enemy of my enemy is my friend and whatnot), spending ever more time together, they start to become allies on deeper levels as well.  I was here for every second of that transition. In particular, the three sides of Ren and the three sides of Grey are fantastic in their symmetry. It was slow, slow, slow burn...but once the critical mass point was hit, and (most of) the major reveals were made, the vibes began to lean towards family and I will forever want more of that. 

Other things. UGH,  this take on tarot is just stunning - and as the novels go, the references and meaning gain clarity and depth for me as a reader and I just love it. Related, this new use of the numinatra, affecting emotions and pushing for the outcomes the bearers of the power want by manipulating others’ thoughts/feelings is wilddddd. So cool! And, also super disconcerting. For real - phew. This series to date has been so well developed and intricately detailed with complex character interweaving and plot movement. At the same time, it is longggg; it’s an undertaking. Worth it. 

So, while the first book was tense and complex as an introduction to the world and these characters with their individual plans/desires, which was fantastic in its own way, here we turn towards cooperation and reliance and partnership, takes the stress in a different direction, united against external forces as the internal walls begin to come down. Everything still teeters on the edge of falling apart at all times, keeping my investment in everything unfolding high and on tenterhooks...and head over heels invested. Oh yes, I am very happy. And I cannot wait to see how all this coming together in a build towards the finale actually plays out in taking down the "big bad," as it were. Two huge tomes into this trilogy and I'm still wanting more and excited for the closing.

“Justice is revenge in formal dress…”

“If you can’t even have a good cry with your friends without worrying about your secrets getting out, I’m thinking you need more crying, more friends, and fewer secrets.”

  “Her giggle remade him. He’d spoken of love earlier, but it was the soft sound curling between them that took root and twined the three parts of his soul into one certainty. […] Her pushed [her hair] back so the moons looking through the window limned her face. He saw no more fear there. Only the same question from before, and an echo of the heat blossoming through him - the reflection of his soul into her eyes.”