3.5 stars

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, but for the most part it was still really good.

I had two big issues while reading. One, the writing. While I like A.G. Howard's style, some bits were ridiculous and others were repetitive. For example, "I know that wild blue hair and those lips that taste of silk, licorice, and danger." Just no. I mean, silk and danger don't taste like anything. Then, throughout the story, it was brought up over and over that Morpheus had a cockney accent. Okay, cool. It doesn't need to be brought up so often. That, and the fact that nearly every time he was talking to Alyssa he added "luv" at the end. It's more of a personal thing, but just ... please stop?

And second, Morpheus himself. I think everyone that has read this likes him much more than Jeb, and I thought I would too, given my tendency to love arrogant, mysterious love interests. But nine times out of ten I just couldn't stand him. He's so manipulative and excessively cocky, and I found I didn't care about him much at all. I think he could redeem himself in the final book, though it would take a lot, but I wasn't even remotely concerned when his fate was revealed in the end. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

On that note, I didn't really like Jeb either. My problems with him weren't as prominent as my problems with Morpheus, but I just wasn't a fan. It felt like he constantly needed either reassuring or rescuing, and I'm not here for that. I didn't care very much when his fate was revealed, either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(I just realized that at the moment, there are no love interests in any of A.G.'s books that I like. Oops.)

However, I thought Alyssa was awesome. I loved her narration, her determination, and honestly just everything about her. She had flaws for sure, but I was rooting for her. I loved seeing her come to terms with her netherling side, and embrace her magic and then finally her wings. Also, her sass and her general attitude toward Morpheus was absolutely wonderful, even though she did care for him.

The story felt slower than it was in the first book, and there was a sad lack of Wonderland. It did pick up majorly in the second half, and the end has practically guaranteed the third book will take place mostly in Wonderland, but I was a little disappointed. I love A.G.'s dark, twisted version of it, even though it was a bit creepy sometimes, and I wanted to revisit it. But hey, more reason to want book three!

I'll be very happy if the entirety of book three is as thrilling as the second half of this one, because that was one wild ride. The only way it could've been better is if there had been less drama with Morpheus and Jeb. Alyssa and her mom working together is great, and the whole prom scene was just epic. And can we talk about that ending? It wasn't quite the cliffhanger I'd heard it was, but it definitely wasn't what I expected and I'm still eager for more.

Oh, and if the thing Ivory told Alyssa earlier on could just not happen, that would be awesome. 😊

Now on to the final book!