Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for a review.

I am enjoying this series so much. Even though it was lengthy, some of the descriptions that were cut that I wanted to see on the page, so there was a slight pacing issue. But I cannot nitpick something that was genuinely such a good time from beginning to end, and I continue to be blown away by the quality of the worldbuilding and amount of detail that went into the setting. 4.5/5.

Oh my... this book was intense.

So much happened in this installment! I struggled with the pacing at the beginning of the book, but once it got going, IT GOT GOING.

The characters and the world-building are truly the highlight of this series, and I'm always shocked at how well Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms are able to blend in their writing styles together.

Although I liked The Liar's Knot a tiny bit less than the first installment, solely because the magic system goes a little over my head at times, it was still an extremely captivating novel and I cannot wait to see how this trilogy is going to end.

Big thank you to Orbit for an advanced reading copy!

Thank you, Net Galley & Orbit, for providing me with an ARC!

I have to say that this series has the most intricate world-building I have ever read. Each detail and character has a purpose that I truly enjoyed. I am thrilled there wasn't a cliffhanger at the end but also excited to see how the story will conclude in book 3.

The characters genuinely draw you into the story. I found The Liar's Knot a little slower in its progression, especially in the first half, but I don't mind it one bit. The second half of the book takes everything set up in the beginning and runs with it. There's so much detail that it's hard to believe this was a collaboration between two writers—also, the magic - THE MAGIC.

Don't wait to start this series. It's incredible, and you won't regret it.

This book (and series) is so good. There is scheming, cool magic, and fantastic characters. Even a secret society. The characters really shine in this. Most even have a couple different personas! We follow Ren, Grey and Vargo as they navigate their different places within society. But they can all see there is something wrong with their city and they need to figure out how to fix it, especially since they might have been part of the issue. I definitely recommend this series.

"The Mask of Mirrors" was one of the hidden gems of last year, a book I had not heard much buzz about prior to publication, that I then became completely engrossed in when I picked it up. It is a superb example of unique, detailed, cohesive and believable world-building, and I would especially highlight the cultural aspect of that effort. This is a world that makes complete sense and is not spoon-fed to you, but revealed AS the story progresses, with deliberate intention.

The sequel, "The Liar's Knot," is just as superbly constructed - this intricate, lived-in world, filled with bucketfuls of spiritual mystique, power intrigues, romantic dalliances, fashion to die for, and swords (yes, it's a swashbuckling adventure as well!).

If you read the first book, this is what you can look forward to in the sequel - a whole lot more backstory and motivation for Vargo, and for the mythical Rook, fleshing both characters out (especially Vargo) to heights I have not previously suspected. In addition, we learn much more about the backstory of Nadezra, specifically the Tyrant and the roots of his unforgiving rule over the city.

Most importantly, however, you should pay attention to the title of this sequel and ask yourselves what kind of lies are so knotted that need untangling? What lies are *begging* to become revealed so that the story might progress to the joy and satisfaction of the reader?

I think I've teased enough. And I don't really think you need to be sold on this book if you read the first book in the series anyway.

A wonderfully engaging and exciting follow-up to book one of the series, The Mask of Mirrors!! I was so happy to be back with my favorite characters Ren, Grey and of course Vargo. After a quick recap and look back into Vargo's past, the story picks up as Renata becomes a full member of House Traemantis. From there, everything takes off as Ren tries to balance her existence as Renata, Arenza, and the Black Rose. Events come fast and furious as Renata is initiated into a secret society, the Illius Praeteri, and past secrets and current ones all begin to collide. All of the revelations, secrets and events put the relationships between Renata & Vargo, the Rook & the Rose, and Grey & Arenza into jeapardy and often into deadly territory.

This was such a fun and entertaining story to read! Everything in this world that Marie & Alyc have crafted is so incredibly well thought out, fully realized and the characters so complex, that you truly get caught up in what may happen to them. The magic of numinatria, the pattern readings with the cards and how it all is coming together is a marvel. The pace of events moves along so well and so much is revealed about the characters and their pasts, that you cannot stop reading. Vargo is one of my favorites characters and just when you think you have him pegged, another layer is revealed. He is wonderfully written. His relationship and dialogues with Mr. Peabody are delightful and some of my favorites scenes. The growing relationship between Ren & Grey is a beautiful thread throughout the story. There are some well deserved payoffs and I am excited to see how everything is brought together in the final installment of the series!!

As the second book in “The Rook and Rose” trilogy “The Liar’s Knot” raised the bar to a whole new level. I absolutely loved reading this book and it’s easy to say I will be mentioning it non stop to everyone I know.

The Liar’s Knot picks up soon after the ending of the first book and the shocking events that took place. Not only do we see the people of Nedežra try and rebuild their society after the fall of house Indestor but we also come to know about many new secrets and mysteries.

The world-building in this book was just as great as in the first book and that’s one of the strong points of this series. But, compared to The Mask of Mirrors, I think that it was a bit less pronounced which is a good thing. We learned a lot about the city and world in which the series takes place already and it’s not necessary to go in depth about it anymore.

In my opinion the bigger focus of this book was on the action and the relationships between characters. I loved reading about the new hidden identities that we encounter in this book as well as the schemes that Ren, Vargo and Grey all participate in. The romance is also more frequently mentioned in this book and even though I find Grey so very boring I liked that aspect too. Vargo is of course the highlight of this book for me and i’m so happy that we got to find out more about him and his struggles, and his past. I was always so excited to read his chapters because they are the most fun. The dinamic between him and Alsius was so hilarious too. I adore them and their unusual friendship beyond explanation.

There was so much drama in this book and I live for that! I’m recommending this book to you if you’re like me and love reading about hidden identities, secret cults, found family, friendship and just the right amount of romance.

Let me just say I did not realize this was a sequel when I requested it and was vastly confused the majority of the time. However, I must say the writing was spectacular! It truly felt so vivid and the world! The world felt so real and it was all so immersive!

This author truly has a talent for organizing words in such a beautiful way. I will definitely be reading the first book as I've realized my mistake and will hopefully understand everything more.

As well, the characters felt like real people. I couldn't believe just how real everything felt and I know if I had read the first they'd feel even more real!

Such a great book! The only pitfall was that it felt like it had a slow start. However, again that could be because I didn't read the first book! I highly suggest checking this author and this series out!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Liar’s Knot is a better book than its predecessor, if not from an objective point of view, at least from a personal preference one. A combination of the groundwork being set up in the prior book, and getting a succinct summary of things that I either forgot in the intervening time between books, or went over last head entirely, helped to make me feel a bit more at ease this time around.

Having some sense of who the major players are, I did find it interesting with the exploration of their multiple identities, and keeping those straight…especially Ren. It was interesting how she and Grey worked their multiple identities, doing double dealing and politicking.

Vargo definitely stood out a bit more with exploration of his backstory. I could empathize with someone who was treated like dirt in the past trying to navigate the world and make something of himself.

Pacing wise, it’s still pretty slow, but it definitely felt worth it. While I would have preferred a bit more in terms of plot, there’s a lot of character growth and political intrigue that keep things interesting.

This is a solid installment, and I’m excited for what’s in store with the forthcoming conclusion to the trilogy. If you enjoyed the first book, you should pick this one up too!

May I just say that I am uber impressed by how awesome this book was? And the FASHION! It’s glorious! With a cover that gorgeous I really would expect nothing less. Also, I’ve just realized that a peacock spider like PEABODY is part of the mask design. I love Peabody and I don’t normally care for spiders, but he just seems really cute.
I have so many favorite parts of this book to be honest. For instance, the intertwining of the Vraszenian pattern magic and the somewhat more scientific astrological magic was really cool. I love that we got to explore how those two magics can work together or influence one another. Then you throw in the secret societies and that’s a whole new level of exciting stuff! Since Vargo and Ren have both recently been elevated to high society, they’ve been invited to one of the most prominent of the societies and they must be initiated to become privy to the secrets they hold.
I also love all the tension between Vargo, Ren, and the Rook. It’s not exactly what I’d call your stereotypical love triangle, since Ren isn’t a vapid teenager that just can’t make up her mind on which guy to choose. There was just the right amount of time spent on Ren being entranced by both for different reasons and then she makes a decision. Vargo is handsome and fascinating obviously, but he also runs on the darker side of things with his gangs. The Rook is a vigilante seeker of justice, hunting down magical relics and has more of a “good guy” vibe to him though he’s not exactly a shining example of morality either at times. There ends up being a delightful amount of tension (not sexual) between Vargo and the Rook too, since they have a bit of a history with one another.
Overall, the story and character development were phenomenal and I was SUPER invested for the entire duration of the book. I really didn’t want it to end and now I’m out here jonesing for the sequel because there is most definitely going to be a third book. There’s so much left to explore in this world and so many unfinished plot elements, like destroying the numinatra artifacts the Rook has been chasing down. Did I mention how much I loved learning more about the Rook’s origins? This was such a compelling story with just the right blend of action, intrigue, and political maneuvering mixed with lots of magic and FASHION and BAKED GOODS. I love that Ren’s sister Tess is being wooed by a guy who brings her tons of baked goods - that too is the way to my heart (just ask my husband). I really can’t recommend this series enough and loved every page!

The Liar’s Knot is the second installment of the Rook & Rose trilogy. As a sequel it holds up very well to the first entry in the series.

The world is fleshed out, the magic system gets a bit more explained and questions are addressed from the first.

I think the characterizations of the characters improved in this entry. Instead of a huge cast, the point of views really narrow down on defining our three main leads and gave time for their personality-filled and unique interplay.

Vargo gets more page time and is an interesting player in the society. Grey’s arc is much improved with the revelation of the Rook and the Rook’s history- somehow a character I couldn’t care less about in the first quickly became a favorite with all the sides shown to him. And Ren faces an interesting conflict of identities and having to grapple with ambition and finding herself. We just get so much more drive and layers to these characters now that their secrets and motivations are exposed and it really accentuates the book.

The biggest issue with it though is the overarching plot or the general vagueness of it until the last 100 or so pages closing it up. It was very character driven and while interesting there was only so much these characters could do for me.

I am glad it didn’t end on a cliffhanger, it was pretty self-contained with enough for another entry that I may end up picking up to close out this trilogy!

The Liar’s Knot, M.A. Carrick’s follow-up to the quite good Mask of Mirrors, does not disappoint as a sequel, offering up the same level of complex plotting, strong characterization, and fluid writing seen in book one even as it (mostly) avoids the dreaded MBS (Middle Book Syndrome). It’s nigh on impossible to discuss it without major (and I mean major) spoilers for book one, so if you haven’t read Mask of Mirrors, you seriously want to stop here (seriously), though before you go you should feel confident starting the series based on the high quality of the first two books (and perhaps based as well on the pedigree of the two co-authors — Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms — who make up M.A. Carrick, if you’re familiar with their work).

I’m going to cheat here and reuse setting description and list of characters from my review of Mask of Mirrors, with a few updates based on the events of that novel. Last warning for major spoilers!

The setting is the city of Nadezra — ruled over by an occupying, mostly corrupt, noble elite whose ancestors conquered the surrounding land, then were driven out of all but the city, which in the peace treaty became “shared,” in the sense that the conquerors (the Liganti) rule and the natives (the Vraszenians) get access to their holy sites. The story has one truly main character — Ren — and a number of other major characters:
Ren: A young woman, former child of the streets, who with her blood-sister Tess ran a long con to insinuate herself into one of the city’s powerful (or, once-powerful, to be more accurate) families by impersonating an estranged “niece” they’ve never met or heard of. Now firmly ensconced in House Traementis, she must try to keep her true backstory hidden while maintaining several disguised roles (mystic Vraszenian Pattern-reader — think Tarot but with power —, and justice-seeking, mask-wearing vigilante the Black Rose), all while trying to resurrect House Traementis to its former standing, help the oppressed Vraszenians, fight the city’s corruption, figure out the secret identity of The Rook (see below), avoid the machinations of Derossi Vargo (see below), and defeat a secret mystic cult that might just destroy the city.
Grey Serrado: Captain of the Vigil — the Nadezra police force — as revealed at the end of Mask of Mirrors, The Rook, a sort of a nationalistic Batman who has been protecting the Vraszenians of Nadezra for 200 years, with one Rook handing the role down to a younger replacement over the centuries. A native Vraszenian working for the hated Liganti, Serrado is stuck between two worlds as he tries to protect his people and change the system from within. He’s also seeking to avenge the death of his brother, a death he now knows is linked to Derossi Vargo (see below). Serrado knows Ren’s secret identities, but she does not know he is the Rook.
Derossi Vargo: A young crime lord who, like Al Pacino in the Godfather films, sought in book one to go “legit” by joining the nobility, something he managed by the end of that book, so he is now head of House Vargo, much to the dismay of many of the traditional noblefolk.
House Acrenix: One of the more powerful houses. Led by Ghiscolo Acrenix, it also includes his daughter Sibiliat. Both of them are schemers of ill intent.

There are a number of important somewhat secondary but significant characters, as well as a good number of others (tertiary?) still integral to the plot if less so and with far less page time. Honestly, it can be difficult to keep that third level of characters straight, especially as so much of their importance is dependent on their social role, which House they are part of, how that House interacts with other Houses or what that House’s role is in the city’s governance, but one can glide along pretty well with a fuzzy notion and can also, if feeling the need for a more concrete sense of character, flip to the extensive Dramatis Personae at the beginning.

The plot is twisty and turning and filled with schemes and schemers, schemes within schemes, secret identities, betrayals and seeming betrayals, true revelations and false revelations, misconstrued motivations, changes of heart, and more. Some may admittedly find it a bit much, but I quite enjoyed its rich complexity. Even better, it took some turns I hadn’t expected, which doesn’t happen very often anymore. The plot raises the stakes somewhat from the first book (I won’t say how so as to avoid spoilers), and also sharpens some of the themes as, for instance, the oppression of the Vraszenians becomes more overt, more violent, more systematic, and more government-sponsored (which also places Serrado in an even more untenable situation).

The authors also show a good understanding here of when to let certain plot points drop or shift onto a new track. In Mask of Mirrors, for instance, as much as I enjoyed the book, I felt the “Who is the Rook?” mystery went on too long (both for the reader and for the characters). Here, the figuring-out-who-is-under-the-mask/hood plot threads go only as long as they should. In a somewhat similar vein, that also holds true for all the secrets, hidden schemes, and misunderstandings. Too often (really, way too often), that sort of complicated plotting gets drawn out in painfully contrived fashion, with characters either not having conversations you know they would be having or else being far more oblivious than they are painted in any other aspect of the story. Here, those hidden nooks and crannies drive the first half of the book, then, gasp, characters actually talk, and the book is driven by other equally as compelling storylines (well, mostly—more on that later) as masks come off and lies unravel or are owned up to.

Meanwhile, the characters remain a strong point in book two, with all the main characters — Ren, Serrado, Vargo — painted in richly complex fashion, with past histories that continue to haunt them and drive their current behavior and thinking. That said, they also grow and change thanks to the events first of book one and here in The Liar’s Knot. Strengthening the characterization even more is how their relations to one another shift dependent on various revelations and actions, something that not only deepens their characters but also often adds a welcome bit of humor to the book. The secondary characters don’t fare quite so well, they’re given a bit short shrift, but still they get their own storylines and their own movement and growth, particularly Ren’s sister Tess, her House sister Giuna, and Vargo’s spider Peabody (yes, you read that right).

The book does feel a bit overlong, as did Mask of Mirrors but to a lesser degree. Part of the reason I think is that the first book offered up more off a consistent and pervasive sense of tension and mystery as the reader grew ever more nervous over Ren getting caught (and there were many, many opportunities for that to happen) and, to some extent, remained puzzled by the mystery of the Rook’s identity. Here, we know who the Rook is, and the other secrets, as noted above, get revealed partway through rather than at the end. What is left then is the mystery cult plot, which I’d argue is by far the weakest element of novel: abstract, scattered, and disconnected, involving somewhat incompetent adherents and led by thinly characterized villains, all leading to a somewhat overly familiar goal and a more-than-somewhat anti-climactic resolution. Luckily, if it’s the weakest element of the novel, it’s also one that gets very little page time, so even readers who agree with my assessment won’t find it mars the reading experience much at all.

That resolution and what leads up to it is based in a deepening world-building, particularly a deeper understanding of the city’s past, and it leaves a good number of questions to be answered in book three. Based on the first two novels, I have no doubt that readers will be eagerly impatient for that final book.

I absolutely adored this book. In trilogies there is a saying about "second book syndrome" which references the second book being slower paced and having a lot of build up for the third and final book, which usually is very fast paced and action packed. Typically with that reference the second book is usually more boring. That is NOT THE CASE here. The Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick was a thrilling ride from start to finish. We get more character arcs, background stories, major plot reveals, and so much more! M.A. Carrick brilliantly writes a rich, unique world that is both political and sensual without being overtly so. The characters are three dimensional, the scheming is top notch, and Ive never met a better morally gray character than I have with this series. The Liar's Knot is a top notch second book to this series and I can't wait to finally have the finished copy in my hands! The third one can't come out soon enough!

The Liar’s Knot was spectacular and even better than the first book in the series.

I’m in love with this fantasy series and I love that they all end with things wrapped up, so you’re only anxiously awaiting the next book because you enjoy the world and not because of cliffhangers frustratingly keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Ren came so far as a character.. I loved seeing her finally learn how to let her guard down, learn who and when to trust..

I admit I’ve always liked Grey, so I was glad that we not only got more of Vargo but more of Grey as well. I loved the whole conflict and secrets of all of them trying to read each other and figure out who was really who.. while we knew all along who was who. It was like a complex game of cat and mouse except you really just wanted them to all work together.

It’s so easy for series to have disappointing sequels, but this book did not suffer from second book syndrome. It was spectacular, full of magic, secrets, intrigue, politics, and love. (and for anyone like me patiently awaiting some romance, it finally came in this book and was totally worth the wait. No spice, but I’m so invested in it.)

I will definitely continue reading this series and I highly recommend. This series is not for anyone trying to read a romance or binge a compelling fantasy.. it’s definitely more complex and intricate and heavy. I did fly through both books once I got going because they are hard to put down, but it’s definitely not a quick or light read.

This book made me work for it, two weeks of reading was like a lifetime, but I'm so glad I pushed through. This was really good and had so much going on. The pacing is slow but I can't imagine anything getting cut out, everything is important and contributes to the story. Ren's journey just gets crazier and things in Nedezra are heating up!

Ren is now playing three roles, Renata the noblewoman, Arenza the Vraszenian fortune teller, and the Black Rose, a masked vigilante. I don't know how she keeps up with her identities and all the secrets going on. She's also inducted into a secret society that may be a cover for nefarious plots. I admire how well she keeps track of everything and was happy that she opened up to a couple people and gained some allies.

Grey also has a secret identity, the Rook. During the day, Grey is trying to be a good captain of the guard but struggles when a new task force starts hurting the Vraszenians and abusing their power. At night, the Rook hunts down those who hurt others and tries to find mysterious medallions that might be the cause of problems around the city.

I really changed my mind about Vargo as we saw into his past more. He's less of a bad guy and more a man trying to make his way in the world after being treated like filth as a child. He's a good secret keeper and helps Ren even when it doesn't benefit himself. His relationship with Alsius is sweet at times and I think he was happy to gain a real friend in Ren.

This is an entertaining book and I really enjoyed reading it. Just be aware that it's a long ride, but definitely worth it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the copy

The Liar's Knot does everything you want in a good sequel, deepening your understanding of the characters you already knew well, building out others with exciting nuance and complexity, and raising the stakes in surprising ways. In The Liar's Knot, we see the toll Ren's various cons and identities are taking on her health and her relationships and now that Grey's identity as the Rook is known to readers, we also get much more insights into his motivations and the impact his double life has on him. Seeing the Rook and the Rose team up when Grey is the only one who knows the other's identity is a fun and fascinating dynamic. But danger is always lurking in Nadezra, and when Ren gets invited into a secret society she finds herself embroiled with magic beyond her previous understanding. The plot takes thrilling turns that keep you on edge. However, the best part of the novel is what it does with Vargo, whose backstory, schemes, intentions, and loyalties lead to the most compelling material.

This book (and, by extension, series) is the holy grail of world-building and characterisation. The nuance, the intricacy, the intention behind everything is so well thought-out and expertly crafted.

And while I do appreciate good world-building and characters, I'm definitely much more of a plot kind of girl. And I think that's why I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first book. The main two plot points - the long con Ren is trying to pull and the secret identity of the Rook - have already been completed and found out, so there really isn't much of a plot other than the secret societies within the city nobility. Which is what this installment focuses on and I just found it to be a bit slow, a bit drawn out. But that's because it never really feels like there is a specific end goal, some sort of conclusion to look forward to, like the first book. It's just kind of an ongoing thing that the characters deal with.

But I do think it's the perfect set-up to facilitate the detailed world-building and complex character development, which is the highlight of this book, without a doubt. The narrative value is so high and worth reading alone. So even though this isn't quite as plot-driven as the first book, it's still a great lead up to what I think will be an excellent conclusion to the trilogy.

The Liar's Knot picks up right where we left off in The Mask of Mirrors. The Rook's secret identity has been revealed to the reader, and Ren is reeling due to a fresh betrayal. Even though the zlyzen and their horrific leader have been stopped, Ren and her siblings' problems are only beginning. The revelation of a secret society within the nobility brings Ren face to face with her betrayer, forced to carry on pretending she's clueless as to their intentions. Meanwhile, her partnership/ flirtation with The Rook takes her deeper into the criminal underbelly of Nadežra.

The complexity and depth of the characters might be the high point of the novel. When the reader may think they have someone figured out, a new layer of them is revealed and changes everything. The emotions throughout are always intense, and it fuels the tension between every person. From the rage, sorrow, hatred, and love, the readers will feel everything.

This tension and fire between the characters fuel the plot beautifully. Secrets lead to secrets, lies lead to more lies, and betrayals inevitably lead to dire consequences. The twists and revelations never end and will shock readers every time. And during the moments that aren't surprising, the readers are privy to a secret no one else knows. It makes the story so compelling, and it adds a comical element in some cases because you're watching people try to solve a mystery you can see is right in front of them.

Just as in book one, The Mask of Mirrors, I have nothing negative to say about it.

I rated The Liar's Knot five out of five stars. The layers of political intrigue, plot twists, cunning characters, and the otherworldly magic system all combine to create a fully immersive, stunning dark fantasy unlike any other.

As far as explicit adult content goes, it's only alluded to, with no graphic depictions. (As a side note, even the phrasing used for these allusions is delicious. The authors left us the perfect little tidbits to let the imagination run rampant. Or maybe I'm just in love with Vargo... hard to say, really.) But because of the violence and language used throughout, I would recommend this novel to an audience of 18+. Overall, this is a novel perfect for any reader who needs a story to get lost in. This world will suck you in and never let go, much like Ažerais's dream.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I went into this book blind, forgetting the plot and storyline of the first book, but the author did not disappoint. From the very beginning, I knew that this book was going to be fantastic, and it truly was. The plot itself also proceeds well. We learn much more about the Rook: the reason they exist, how they’ve been around for centuries, and what they are actually trying to do (the Rook has a much deeper purpose than simply tweaking the noses of the nobility). The worldbuilding in this book is extraordinary, the time and details the author puts into it really reflect when you're reading the book and everything is very easy to connect because you know the world the book takes place in. The world-building and details of the world are all so intricate and while it can get a bit confusing at times (there is a lot to keep track of) it creates such a vivid story that almost feels like one big dream. Many times I don't like books that do a lot of world-building because the pace of the story slows down, in this book so much a thing happened. The reader got to learn about the world while the pace of the book didn't slow down- 2hich is an amazing thing for an author to achieve. I liked how we get some satisfying answers from book 1 whilst also getting a lot more questions than setting up for book 3, with higher stakes than ever. Overall this book was an amazing book you should read, it's the second book in the Rook & Rose trilogy. Mark your calendars for Dember 9th!

This is an intricate tale of magic (of several flavors), political intrigue, and tangled identities. One of the recurring themes is masks, and it seems every character wears several. No one is quite who they seem.

The world building is incredibly detailed, from theology to magic to geography to social customs. The characters are likewise finely drawn, with full biographies and complicated motivations. The story arc seemed a little random in the first part of book - lots of people doing lots of stuff that didn't seem to really be going anywhere - but the authors pulled all of those threads together in the last third to make a satisfying story.

I haven't read the first volume of the eventual trilogy (this is the second), but I was able to follow along and catch up, so the book can work as a standalone story. However, it is the second book of a trilogy, so don't expect everything to be wrapped up at the end.