Everything unsettles me.

4.25 stars

Because I am, I’m sorry to say, a bit of a mess– an emotional shipwreck– a weak-limbed limpet!

This was just as whimsical, emotional, and healing as book 1. Our characters are separated by *time-space-dimensions* and are working to reunite with their families.

My Brain troubles me once again. I feel very tired, and I keep forgetting what I have and haven’t done. I went to check the door again, despite having already done so several times, and I remain unconvinced that I am safe. How am I to feel safe anywhere that is not the Deep House?

The main thing that I love about these books, and that was apparent in my review of book 1, is the mental illness/health rep. Both E and Henerey have illnesses, and in this one, you see them finally (!!) together and how they are coping and helping each other. That was really great for me. I also especially loved this line:

Because in lots of books, MC #1 meets MC #2 and is all of the sudden “healed” of their mental illness. Come onnn. So this was so much more realistic that E acknowledges that he is helping her (and vice versa) but that she is not magically cured.

There is no magical, cure-all dick in this. Thank you kindly.

Imagine, if you will, an endless ocean topped by an equally endless sky. It seems impossible, of course. Everything must have its end eventually, mustn’t it?

I will say, not a huge fan of the reveal, the reason for the portals and the fall from the sky. I knew this was otherworldly, obvious, but this is, um, a little much for me lmao

It is not staying here that terrifies me the most – it is the thought that E. might soon see how the correspondent who seemed charming on paper is just an anxious, sad fellow who forgot even to bid her good night.

Overall, I need the next book because once again this one ends on a slight cliffhanger and I am dying.

Thank you to Orbit Books and the author for this eARC!