I would 100% read a spinoff series just about Leo and Jakob...please...

Ghostsmith is the second and final book in the House of the Dead series, and it was a perfect fall read. I've seen some complaints about book two falling flat, and while I did wish there had been a little less plot armor, I still really enjoyed this book. The world-building and the aesthetics really hold everything together, and I'm really getting interested in necromancy in fantasy.
Wren, Julian, and Leo are on the run now that Wren has discovered the truth about her heritage and her father's plans. Similar to the first book, the story focused on a mix of "adventure-y" and political elements, though the emphasis fell on the latter. There were a few plot twists, most of which were fairly predictable but still got me hooked. The action and pacing were pretty good (there were a few moments that felt a little dull), and the ending felt a bit anticlimactic, but I overall really enjoyed the vibes.
I also really like the cast of characters. Leo is still my favorite by a long shot and I would love a spinoff book just about him. I liked the few interactions he had with Jakob and was hoping for more. Julian and Wren were back to their "enemies" mindset, which annoyed me for a while, but they got over it soon enough that I wasn't super irritated. I was glad to see more of Inara, too. I've also seen a lot of people say they hate Hawke, but I really liked him, and he was probably in my top 3 characters for the book.
Ghostsmith is a YA fantasy novel with beautiful aesthetics, delightful banter, and a heartwrenching plot.

3.75/5