This book is so different from Gideon the Ninth, to a nearly painful degree. 2nd person is difficult in general,

even if there is a point to it in this case

. It's a long slog of misery, but my love for the series got me through the tougher parts.

Thank goodness for those AU chapters. I am so grateful we got to spend more time with Abigail, Magnus and Ortus. It was always a thrill to get even a tidbit from one of the characters from the first book. Being with the Lyctors was so dry and awful. It was hard to read about Harrow suffering so much and being totally on her own. The ending comes in a big rush and throws a few answers to questions at you while also spinning off many more. I wish this had been more balanced with less long dragged out and repetitive time on the Mithraeum and a bit more time with Harrow's bubble in the River and Gideon in control of Harrow's body.