I don't like not finishing books. I always say I can't be sure I won't like it, maybe I'm going to change my mind about a book in the last couple of pages. It happens to me more often than I would like tbh, and I have discovered several of my favorites that way.

That being said, go read my review of the previous book in the series. I wasn't very impressed. I saw the potential but didn't like the execution. And look at me now—searching for all the extra stories, joining a dedicated discord server, even following the author on Twitter (I need to know when the next book comes out!).

The writing got better. There was one central plotline so that you knew where the story was going and why. I learned more about characters I was interested in and the author made me care about other ones that felt flat or schematic before.

Funny thing: I picked this book because I thought it was a gay romance book. I've read tons of them in the previous weeks; some were more focused on the romance than others, but in all of them it was the thing that kept me invested in the story. Not this time. Apart from the plot (which is interesting and I can't wait to see the development of Rune's character), I'm here for all the platonic relationships—family or friends. Or found family. Or that beautiful thing Rune and Brand have. Rune & Max. Addam & Quinn. Rune & Tower. I want more of it all.

Speaking of relationships, the book contains one of the best scenes I've ever read. For this scene alone the book deserves all the stars I can give it. Ironically, it's a scene between characters in a romantic relationship (as I said earlier, not a relationship I'm interested in much this time), but it acknowledges the importance of other types of relationships in a way that made me cry happy tears. I've never read anything like that before, ever. I'm in awe.