Time travel books are usually inherently cool (imo), but basically everything else about this book was kinda meh. Points for PoC rep (Nicholas), but other than that this book really didn't stand out.

Spoiler

Protagonist not-death

usually doesn't happen in the first book of a series, but even so it's really tropey, almost a dealbreaker for me.

3.5 stars, give or take.

The beginning was promising, and I enjoyed watching the paranormal elements unfold the way they did. But the characters are all archetypes at best — straightforward heroine, bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold former player love interest (with bonus European class, English accent, extensive knowledge of literature), caring parents, protective older brother, trusting younger brother, “token black Jewish bi [only] friend” (whose plot function and personality boil down to “gay best friend”), pretty but bitchy bully and her jock other half — and the romance that eventually takes over the plot is heteronormative in problematic ways (specifically that he’s more than a little controlling and possessive, and lashes out violently several times; she actively ignores and/or dismisses her instincts regarding pursuing the relationship further).

All that said, it’s a fairly well-told story, I’m charmed by the characters in spite of myself, and I am genuinely interested in what happens next.

Part of this series’s draw for me is that Mara and Noah (and by extension the reader) can’t seem to find the lines between paranormal and science and psychosis, so it messes with your mind. This installment carries even more suspense, even more sense of urgency, higher stakes, the whole enchilada. It might also propagate some harmful stereotypes and misconceptions regarding mental disorders, healthcare professionals, and related topics; as with the first book, tropes comprise the foundation.

It does feel a little bit like I’ve read this story before, though I don’t usually reach for paranormal or romance novels. (But I have spent a lot of time with characters in therapy and treatment programs, so that aspect is definitely familiar.) Still, I want to see this one through.

The narration style takes some getting used to, being alternately detached and wholly emotion-driven, but it works well both to convey Nemesis’s thoughts and to tell the story from the view of an alleged outsider to the society. Technically I guess it’s YA dystopia, but the space setting and well-executed political intrigue — coupled with memorable characters and a morally fascinating premise — actually work really well for me.

EDIT: I previously shelved this under LGBTQIA representation for a significant development; however it was really just a single scene, and while noteworthy and poignant, it was the only such representation present.

Honestly, a little disappointing considering how much I loved the original. I can find it hard to sympathize with lone-wolf characters who are "tragically misunderstood" or betrayed by "everyone they cared about," and in this case I couldn't seem to find the Adelina whom I was fascinated by and felt for in the first book.

3.5 stars.

Really loving getting to know the characters and their relationships even better, and I personally enjoyed the introduction of Mainlanders/RPCs who speak the same language as me. Still super melodramatic, but in a super fun way.

To be quite honest, I felt absolutely nothing at all while reading this book. The writing was adequate, unirritating enough to keep reading to the end because I was mildly interested in how everything would play out, but I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or their situations. Each of the three narrators sounded and seemed to think exactly the same, so even the rotating POV was pretty bland. There were definitely lots of “shock value” twists, but again, they didn’t really play out significantly enough to elicit much reader response.

3.5 stars.

Kind of a slow start as I relearned the characters and setting, but when the action hit it really came at me — fast, relentless, unforgiving; just like Nemesis’s world. Plot twists fly by one after another after another, but I think I quite enjoyed the ride. The worldbuilding isn’t the most seamless I’ve seen, but it’s unobtrusive enough not to sever the reader’s connection to the story; the characters and settings are all vivid and memorable (perhaps helped by their scarcity of number) if not consistent.

Overall, some minor flaws in the storytelling, but a pretty great story in and of itself.