Well... Reading this immediately after reading the first book wasn't such a good idea. Repetition after repetition after repetition. The book got better in the end though. The last 30-40 pages it was actually interesting. The book basically serves a purpose as an introduction to characters we'll meet in the third book. It's not really necessary to read this book.

I found the main character really unlikable, he was a bit of an a**. I don't know if the author was trying to bring characteristics of a certain culture to point with that, but I thought it was irritating. Will he change in the next book? I hope so. The way he treated his little sister... Phew. Saint Bri and bad seed Julie. Julie was the most likable and real character in the book. I just wanted to slap Alex most of the time.

Also the major role religion played irritated me, because I steer clear of overly religious books. So I wish I had known about that.