I'm pretty surprised that I didn't tear through this one as quickly or enjoy it as much as I did TJ Newman's previous two books. I think it was a combination of right book, wrong time (it's been difficult to sustain my interest in anything that's not horror or romance/erotica lately) and the change in setting and scope from Falling and Drowning. There is just so much going on in this book, so many settings and people to mentally juggle, and at times I found it difficult to connect with the characters very deeply, even in highly emotional moments. I also reached a point of fatigue with just how many highly emotional moments there were, as the stakes only keep heightening up to the penultimate chapter. It stressed me out and not in a rollicking good time, oh-the-suspense! kind of way.

However, I really do admire Newman's continued dedication to telling survival and disaster stories that center the importance of community in times of crisis and that highlight the fact that many different types of people, including those you might not expect, possess helpful knowledge, perspectives, and skills. There is never one big tough guy who tells everyone what to do and gets the girl in the end, and that is so refreshing.