This is my first sci-fi read of 2021 and it's not a terrible start, if I may say so myself. The beginning of this book really grabbed my attention and I took an immediate liking to Cassy and Freddie. You can tell from the beginning of the story that they have known each other for some time and have a cool friendship. However, I feel like the character development loses some steam after the beginning of the book. I would have wanted to have more character and relationship building, specifically for the romance in the story. I'm at least glad that the romance in the book didn't jump past the stage of initial infatuation. This book is short and there was not enough time spent with the characters to merit anything beyond that. I wish it was longer solely because the characters were likeable. I really wish I got to spend more time with them. Cassy is a very competent space captain who despite her romantic feelings, puts the greater good before her own personal interests. Her actions match up with her character and the same goes for everyone else. So, kudos there. The plot does progress in a very linear fashion, but also hits beats in the story more conveniently than I would have liked. In turn, this made it feel to me like there was a lack of motivation for the events in the story, even though the events happening were logical. The pacing is also felt very fast, even for me who usually prefers fast paced books. That is something to note if you have a preference for pacing. I do plan on continuing the series and I am hoping that I get more of what I felt was lacking in this first installment. I feel like this is a series with a start that has potential. I'll have to keep reading to see if the series delivers.

I was happy to finally get a book focusing on Anhuset and Serovek. However, I should note that this book has a slower pace than the first two books in the series. There is a lot of the first half of the story spent exploring political intrigue and some of the implications of events in the previous installments in the beginning. I believe the weakest part of this book is the pacing. I understand that the focus on the political plot at the beginning was necessary for the story, but it felt like it dragged more than it should have. In my opinion, that part of the story could have either been shorter, or, could have  instead included more scenes with Anhuset and Serovek together. We get to see Ildiko and Brishen again for some instances, which is nice of course, because they are very likeable characters and still have a large role in the plot. 

I appreciated seeing Anhuset and Serovek work together and form a deeper emotional connection as they journeyed together. They have had previous interactions that we as readers have seen, but in retrospect they were only surface level compared to what we got in this installment. Both characters were given space to be vulnerable with each other in ways we had not seen before. This made the payoff so much better by the end of the book for their relationship. I am looking forward to reading my next book by Grace Draven. She does relationship building very well and I think if you can get past the pacing in this one you'll have a good time.

I picked this book up at the right time. Braht and Ash have known each other for a prolonged period of time before the book begins, so it gives a good basis for the beginning of their romantic relationship. Based on their interactions you can tell that despite Ash's annoyance with Braht she respects him and sees him as a friend underneath all of that. Throughout the book when she needs support, Braht pulls through and is willing to be there for her when she needs it because he loves her earnestly. Their interactions were very entertaining to read about. There is also the depiction of a close friend group they have in common. I really like stories involving found family, and this book sort of has one. Braht is also really comfortable in his own masculinity and partakes in more traditionally feminine activities with no qualms about it. Everyone in the group has great chemistry and are really supportive and loving to one another. I wasn't planning on reading other books in the series, but now I want to because all of the characters are so likeable. If you're looking for a fast-paced romance that is cozy, and funny, I recommend this one.

 This second installment has a more in-depth exploration of the relationship between the Order and the friendly fae. Ivy also must deal with the aftermath of discovering that she is a halfling. The fae lay low for most of the book, but there is a lot of mystery surrounding what happened to the alliance between the fae and The Order. I appreciated that this book focused on Ivy's friendship with Tink. They really are the best of friends and Tink especially proves how important Ivy is to him. Ivy goes through a lot in this book, but it really shows what a resilient person she is. Despite all the challenges that she faces, she is able to pull through. She also has an amazing support system around her and the importance of those relationships was showcased in a ay that I appreciated. This book has a much darker tone than the last one and the stakes are getting higher as the story goes on. I'm looking forward to seeing how Ivy continues to deal with her status as the halfling and what side of the battle The Order ends up falling in.    

This book takes a darker tone in comparison to the previous installment. The war between the chimera and angels has resurfaced at full force. Karou must navigate her complicated feelings towards Akiva as she attempts to serve as the new resurrectionist for her people. Meanwhile, the chimera distrust her and Karou's guilt for her perceived role as an accomplice to the Angel keeps her from truly bonding with any of the chimera. Thiago is back in the picture, busy strategizing for the war and keeping a close eye on Karou. One of the main themes explored in the book is that war doesn't differentiate between good and evil. Individuals on both sides of the war commit atrocities and more and more people die, including innocent civilians that do not have nor want involvement in the war. There is very strong imagery of the toll this war is taking on both sides and it paints war as what is is: hideous and taxing. I appreciated the realism in the depiction of this conflict and the way Laini Taylor crafted such important commentary into her story seamlessly.

Despite all the dark themes explored in this book, there are moments of lightheartedness. This is mostly a wholesome contribution made by Zuzana and Mik. I'm still not invested in the romance between Karou and Akiva outside of the symbolism behind their relationship. However, Mik and Zuzana are a different story. Zuzana and Mik were able make me laugh and smile multiple times between very grim moments in the story and their dynamic together is hilarious and cute. They are fiercely loyal and supportive of Karou throughout the story and help provide moments of joy amongst all the carnage of the war. It's clear that they don't really understand the gravity of the situation at first, but they are able to help Karou greatly despite that. 

The pacing of the story felt a bit slower than the previous book, but it felt appropriate for the events occurring. None of the events in the story felt like they dragged at any point, which I can appreciate. There is a reveal at the end that raises the stakes astronomically. I'm looking forward to seeing how the characters in the story deal with the aftermath of that in the next book. I liked this installment more than the last, but we also got to see more of Mik and Zuzana, and I think that definitely tipped the scale for me. They are my favorite characters after all. If you liked the first book in the series, I think you'll definitely enjoy this continuation.

I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I plan on ordering both sequels so that I can continue with this series in the future. When I first started reading the book I was unsure of the setting or country of origin of the main characters. From the way the story is told I think most readers will eventually catch on like I did, but probably not immediately. Jamie Watson is an American teenager raised for many years in England with his American mother after her divorce from his father, who stayed in America and remarried. Charlotte Holmes is a British teenager who has been sent to an American prep school on the east coast to study. In this world Sherlock Holmes and John Watson were real people and Charlotte and Jamie are their respective descendants. Jamie has always been curious about the Holmes but his mother has discouraged this his entire life. Jamie gets into an American prep school an hour away from where his father lives on a rugby scholarship. Charlotte and Jamie subsequently meet at school. Jamie has a crush on Charlotte from the beginning of the story and eventually, through a series of bizarre circumstances, she opens up to him and they become best friends. It was interesting to see that below her cold demeanor Charlotte had a lot of complexity as a character and fierce loyalty to those she cares for. Female characters like her aren't often shown in a positive light in media, so I took a great liking to her because I am partial to misunderstood characters like her. Jamie is a kind young man with a temper, but he has his heart in all the right places. The dynamic between Charlotte and Jamie feels very balanced and they contrast each other well. Charlotte incredibly intelligent, but is often rude not just to Jamie, but to everyone. You can immediately tell that her harshness isn't personal and I think that is the true key to her friendship with Jamie. Jamie sees Charlotte for who she is, doesn't take anything she says personally and likes her for being herself,  flaws and all. Because of all this he also understands her better than anyone else does. This becomes clear through their relationship and scheming together in the story.

There is a lot of serious content in the book despite the lighthearted overall tone. There are references to rape, drug addiction, and sexual assault, although nothing explicit. Do keep that in mind if this is a book you wish to pick up. Besides that though, this is book has a strong focus on mystery and friendship as well as redemption. The characters are multilayered and flawed and the story keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. There are a lot of nice easter eggs for anyone who is a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you're a fan of mystery, intrigue, and strong friendships, this is the book for you.

This is a fitting conclusion to this duology. There was a strong focus on the Stories finding a sense of belonging on Earth after leaving the Hinterland. Alice truly wants to find a place to belong and she attempts to attend school and hang around people her age. However, her prospects of having a normal life become slim as ex-Stories are murdered and she becomes a name on the hit list. Overall, there was a sense of mystery and darkness throughout the story. The pacing was a bit slower than I would have wished and I don't feel that we spent as much time with Finn and Alice together as I would have wanted. I think their relationship could have used more development, but the story was still engaging and interesting. We got perspectives from both Alice and Finn which helped build up tension in the plot. 

My favorite part was the development we got for the relationship between Ella and Alice. You could feel the love in this parent-child relationship. Ella makes it clear with her actions that she has chosen Alice to be a part of her life and loves her. Usually, parent-child relationships are not the focus of most stories and Melissa Albert did a great job of depicting a great one.

If you're in the mood for a dark fairy tale with mystery and intrigue, this is exactly what you'll get in this sequel. However, don't expect much romance, as I think that is something this book lacks, although I personally didn't miss it.

I didn't expect that this was going to be a horror short story, so that was interesting. I really like the art in this graphic novel and for something so short, it was very impactful. If you like horror with some mystery and gore, I think you would appreciate this.