Everything I liked about the Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was torn from my cold, dead hands.
-cool, complex , dark protagonist is ignored/cheapened in sequel
-good characters are good and can only ever be good
-good characters are BORING and have no character development besides being reminded that they're good and can be good together
-good guys win even though??? they are ??? not nearly as interesting as the antagonists???? or as cunning???
-magic and characters and concepts that had no buildup to in the first book or this one until you suddenly had to just roll with it
-the cast list at the beginning of the book? yet no emotional attachment to the characters?

Essentially, villains are super cool but the heroes suck tbh.

“Why put a scary part in the middle of a beautiful piece?” I remember asking my piano teacher. “Because life is scary sometimes, little one,”

Very emotional and also heartwarming.

There is so much that happens in this book that I honestly felt like years passed in real life just like they did in the book (in a good way). It's viscerally stunning and engaging and harrowing. Highly recommend.