I really enjoyed book 1 in this series with all of its mystery and intrigue. This one didn't quite have the same oomph. Rather everything is focused on being on the run and stopping the Blood Emperor. It just didn't feel as thought out as the first novel and started to drag after the first 20%. And then things just get REALLY weird with communing with gods and the like. I feel like Ikenna is protected by plot armor almost to the point of being a Mary Sue, and that detracted from my experience. This book is also definitively more violent than the previous installment, and sets up a new series in such a random way.. Just not a fan, I guess.

*Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*