3.75 Stars. This series is so hard to explain. At times I didn’t even know if I like the book but it’s like a car wreck; I can’t stop looking (reading) at it. I ended up staying up until 3 am because I could not stop reading. While book one was well written (especially for a debut) this book felt even better. Some of the issues I had from the first book were gone and the pace of the book felt really good to me. It’s the kind of book you get so sucked into that you are shocked to realize that you turned the last page.

This is a series and it starts right where book one, Canopy, ends. I would suggest reading the books in order. This way you would understand the main character’s background, friends, and lovers. I guess you could start here if you had to. You might wonder about certain things, but this book will easily suck you into the story even amidst certain confusion.

While the main character had a girlfriend in book one, I didn’t feel like it was a romance. However, this book I can label a romance. There is lots of drama and action, but this definitely had some romantic moments too. The relationship in this book is WLW poly. I wasn’t big on how the poly went in book one. I felt like it was more one character wanting to date others, while the other partner just had to deal with it. Luckily, in this book it felt more like a consensual poly relationship. I still do not like Ang, at all, but I was very happy with a new character.

I think I would call this book a drama first. It’s hard to categorize it because it deals with tough subjects like PTSD and abuse, but the book doesn’t feel so “drama” heavy, if that makes any sense. Even the action parts of this book were pretty violent, but still I didn’t feel depressed while reading it. The main character is a bit of a badass, and a bit morally grey, and you just can’t help but root for her.

This series is different, which I always like, and super addicting. It almost feels soap opera-ish, with all the drama, but then there is a lot fighting action too. It really is one of those series that I just don’t think you can truly know if it’s for you unless you read it. There are times that I’m reading it and I don’t even know if I like it, but I also can’t stop reading it either. I want a book three, and I will read a book three, so I guess this hard to quantify series really does work for me.

The sequel to Canopy isn’t as gripping as the first instalment in this series. That being said, you could read this one without having read the first book, but you’d miss some understanding of the relationships and Viv’s mental state. So I’d say don’t read this before you’ve read Canopy.

This story picks up where we left Viv in Canopy. So without spoiling that book there isn’t a lot to say on the story. Compared to the first book I feel like this book has less (random) flashbacks. There are some, but I feel like they add to the story/ Viv’s state of mind. In this book I do find the author is repeating herself a bit too much. Especially in the more intense scenes, the fighting for instance. I don’t know how many times one needs to read that a character is solid and strong in the exact same words to understand a character is just that. I only need it once and maybe some extra emphasis on it when worded differently.

Overal I did enjoy the read, the character development on Viv is solid and I like reading about her getting stronger. She seems like a magnet for trouble and mental and physical pain, but she keeps on surviving and growing into a stronger and date I say better person. Her sexual and romantic relationships are not my cup of tea but somehow it is ok in the story. But I do hope she “grows” out of it. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with it, it just isn’t for me, and I think it doesn’t really fit with her character either.

Anyway, it’s a good read, there never is a dull moment in Viv’s life and while it doesn’t make for light hearted reading it does pull you in and makes you want to keep reading.