Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

This was such a fantastic read! After the ending of the first book, I had to know what was going to happen next, and it didn't disappoint! Loved watching them deal with the fallout of the first book-and with the ongoing issues in this one!

I wasn't sure how this book would play out. After the events of the last book, of what they did, and how that was used against them-and what good they did do was claimed by the bad guy, yeah, they were under pursuit by all sides. I had to know what was going to happen next!

We did continue to dance around the timeline in this book, which was really interesting to read. Though I was pretty apprehensive, that was a pretty big risk that they were taking. Just watching it all play out and come together was really great!

Wow, but that ending was fantastic! That cost hurt, and the rebuilding process, oh man, that's going to be a struggle and a half! I'm glad that they got to the point where they can, though the journey there was really tough!

This was such a fantastic read, and a great end to this duology!

Continuing the story of the SEVEN DEVILS, SEVEN MERCIES by Laura Lama and Elizabeth May is another tightrope adventure with explosive plot and lovable characters.

The first chapter of this duology finale has a heist, an explosion, and banter. Aka all the things I loved in the first book condensed into a beautiful moment. It was the first of many signs that this series was going to end on the same fierce, fun terms that it began with. So what makes this series so easy to recommend? It's about consent and freedom from tyranny as human rights. It's about a fabulous found family with a sense of home that curls off the page like smoke from a welcoming hearth fire. It's about battles in space, impossible missions, and a resistance that would give its last breath to defeat an all-consuming, ever-grasping empire. It's queer as hell (among the seven leads: a trans woman, non-binary person, sapphic relationship, ace woman, and a bi man are specifically out on the page). Basically, it's about humanity.

The message is powerful and thoughtful, but it's the characters that made me feel some type of way. I genuinely couldn't choose a most or least favorite of the seven because all of their POVs have that spark of life that gets under your skin. They all suffered, they all carry guilt and hope, and they all fight tooth and nail to take down an empire and to protect each other. I love how there's some light romance, but it's really the found family bonds that tie the story together. You could point to any combination of the team and identify special moments they've had, major turning points in their relationship, or a meaningful connection they share. I (obviously) love a romance as much as the next person if not more, but it felt like a warm hug to read a book that prioritizes the other ways we attach ourselves to one another, with no less value or dedication.

Omg how I cried at a few points. I knew on some level that it would be a rough journey given the scale of the task before our intrepid team. But that didn't make it less painful at times or nerve-wracking. There's undercover work on an alien planet, a mass prison break, and one final, explosive mission against an emperor and an autonomous AI. So I would describe my stress level as 10/10 because I love them all so much and was freaked out about the odds.

Science fiction fans should definitely get their hands on this now complete series. Even for those who are intimidated by the genre, I recommend this as an approachable, character-driven series with all the action and wit one could wish for. Thanks to DAW for my copy to read and review.

Seven Mercies is the latter book in Seven Devils duology that began with Seven Devils. It’s sci-fi set in a distant universe, where large part of humanity is ruled by Archon with the help of the Oracle, an AI that controls humans with a chip in their brains. The Devils are a group of former soldiers turned rebels against the Archon, added with the sister of the current ruler, and an engineer the Oracle considers as its daughter.

The book starts with the Devils on the run after the current Archon framed them for a genocide. The number of rebels has dwindled to a handful, which isn’t a good platform for launching an offensive against him. Then they learn that the Oracle can turn everyone into mindless drones—and intends to do so too. Only one choice remains: shutting down the Oracle for good. Easier said than done, even with surprise ‘help’ on their side.

This was a good book. It did an excellent job in reminding the reader who was who and what had happened in the previous book. Each of the seven characters struggled with their personal problems, which were given ample time. However, it took far too long with this, and the actual plot didn’t start until closer to the half-point, with nothing much happening before. The narrative choice of giving each character their own chapters slowed things down further, and it took days for me to get through the beginning.

Things became more interesting once the action started. Everything went maybe a little too easily for the Devils, but there were tense moments and heartbreak enough to leave this reader satisfied in the end. I’m sad to say goodbye to the Devils, but I’m content with where they ended.

4,5 stars

I love it when authors can wrap up their story in two books. Especially as this was written by two authors. The challenge of keeping out all the things is real then. But nothing one has to worry about here. Elizabeth May and Laura Lam write a tight story with seven characters.

It took me a little while to find my bearing again with this story. Remembering where all 7 devils fit in and then the extra rebellion side characters that were mentioned. I would have loved a bit of a recap here on who was who. But I figured it out.

This story still focuses on the characters more than the action. There is time taken for the important bonding moments. And how to rid ourselves of our programming. How to fight and make our own choices. As someone currently going through therapy to see how my family's history affected my upbringing and to figure out how to break free from all of that, I really appreciated that. I wanted to hold the hand of all our seven devils and squeeze them when times got hard.

I also appreciated how the story changed with the addition of the Oracle becoming the dangerous one and how our youngest devil had something to do with that. And yet our thornly ruler wasn't ruled out as the enemy either. I loved seeing something of another species as well as their planet.

All in all this was just a worthy conclusion to an ass kicking, mostly, female crew space adventure with so much characterization to make you fall in love with each and every character.

Seven Mercies is the second book in the Seven Devils duology. It could be read as a standalone, since all characters and most of their background is explained within the first chapters of the book.

I enjoyed the first book, Seven Devils, a lot, but had trouble connecting to the characters with this second book. It is due to the times we live in right now not the book!

Gosh, I love the duology trend. And this series exemplifies all the reasons why. Seven Mercies ended on such a perfect note, left me so completely satisfied, it just reaffirmed my love for the format. I quite enjoyed the first book, Seven Devils . But I have to say, I enjoyed this sequel even more! IT did take me a minute to get back into the world. There are quite a few characters to remember, and it had been a year and a half, after all. But once I got back into the swing of it, this sequel delivered.

I adored the characters in the first installment, and they were even more developed here. I won't lie, some of their arcs reminded me of character arcs from The 100, and that is always a good thing. There's a lot of great rep here, in terms of sexuality and disability, too. I felt like while I really enjoyed the characters in the first book, I really got to know them in this one. And as such, it made the already high stakes feel even higher, because I was so invested.

Without giving too much about either book away, this was exciting and adventurous, while being very heartfelt and full of character growth. So it's for you no matter your preferences. The relationships between all the characters were really well developed, too. Likewise, I enjoyed the world building, and the politics of the universe. Add to it, the ending was definitely satisfying, while not being too easy, and felt fully appropriate. I'll say nothing else, so you can enjoy this series for yourself.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for space action, it delivers, and if you are looking for amazing characters you will grow to love, it also delivers. What I am saying is, this series delivers across the board.

I was given an ARC for an honest review!

This book REALLY covered the found family and trauma tropes. I did not know how Laura Lam & Elizabeth May was going to beat the first book, but WOW did they.

What I really appreciate about these books is that they really go in on on representation and portray it in such a natural way. And it varies from LGBTQ or to mental illness, in most books that I read characters suffer from trauma and depression, while this is a huge ongoing common wave for most of the people in the world, there are also other mental illnesses that are not talked about or ever portrayed. I also just love that this book has multiple POC's and it just warmed my heart to read about them.

The empire & the Oracle created this journey of danger and and adventure and kept me hooked! Especially, since the book picked up exactly as where it left off from the first. The Seven Devils really showed us who they were in this book and brought it to an end.

I rate this book 4 stars and will be adding it to me re-read pile!

Seven Mercies is an explosive, action-packed ending to a fantastic duology that’s somehow even more enjoyable than the first book.

Seven Mercies follows directly from the events of Seven Devils. This synopsis does have spoilers for the first book, so be aware if you haven’t read that one yet. The resistance has been destroyed, and small groups of survivors are scattered across the galaxy. The seven devils have a huge bounty on their heads and have been forced into hiding. But they’re not ready to give up. They’ll free the galaxy from the evil of the Tholosian Empire, or they’ll die trying.

This book has cemented the series as utterly fantastic by expanding on everything that made the first book enjoyable. You’ve got the action-packed, cinematic pacing that never lets you rest for too long. There’s amazing character development, and despite the large cast, no one feels left behind. If you loved the characters in Seven Devils, get ready to fall in love all over again. The found family vibes are superb. Even with all of the trauma and troubles the cast goes through, there’s always an undercurrent of hope. This team can do impossible things, and you never want them to fail. This finale expands heavily upon the Oracle, an AI that programmes citizens to serve the empire. It was one of the most intriguing world-building features of the first book, so its prominence was delightful and terrible in equal measure. This duology is perfect for fast-paced sci-fi fans who want a diverse, loveable cast.

Omg, my heart!
This one is even better than the first one!
I loved the first one so much but the second one, just outstanding.

The characters developed so well. Especially the backstory of Cato, it was so heartbreaking. This book really was about knowing the characters better and seeing how they are fighting to make a better world.
This is highly recommended if you are looking for a badass found queer family that are traveling in space. Containing topics revolving around feminism, having a bad past and trying to become better.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you netgalley and DAW

As soon as I picked up Seven Mercies and started reading it, I was reminded of how much I loved all the elements of its predecessor, Seven Devils; the classic sci-fi trope of ragtag rebels versus evil empire, excellent pacing and action sequences, and of course my certified Favourite Trope (TM) of queer found family in space make this series a solid standout in my mind and a go-to sci-fi recommendation.

Although I can sometimes have mixed feelings on duologies in general, Seven Mercies is one of the best executed of the ones I’ve read. Not only does it pick up right where the first book left off and throw us back into the action, this novel expands the scope of the world, introducing us to new locales, societies, and conflicts while continuing on the character arcs started in the first book. The pacing doesn’t let up in this one, and multiple plots are handled deftly without giving short shrift to any of the cast.

What makes this series a standout for me are the characters, hands down. I have read books that have focused on one POV character and failed to give as much growth, depth, and emotional resonance as seven whole characters get in this duology, and in this book in particular. It’s such a fine line to balance between providing those character-focused moments while also moving the overarching plot forward, and Seven Mercies does this excellently. I love the characters in this novel and duology so much I gave my book club a PowerPoint presentation on them, so, that probably says a lot. The sapphic relationship gets a lot of page time and depth in this novel, and the bonds between the characters are easily one of my favourite parts.

In many ways for me personally, Seven Mercies (and Seven Devils) are comfort reads. The books present sci-fi tropes that are familiar enough to feel like solid, comfortable ground to those who love the genre while also providing compelling characters and unique voices/elements to give it individual flair. They are books easy to lose yourself in for hours as you find yourself invested in the world and the stakes; ultimately, as a story ultimately about redemption, connection, and hope in the face of impossible odds, this duology touches on a lot of universal elements in a powerful way.

Seven Mercies sticks a solid, emotionally impactful landing to an action-packed duology and will be a frequent recommendation of mine. If you’re looking for a queer, feminist, compelling, and deeply human science fiction story full of heart, this is one for your TBR.

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

In Seven Mercies the characters only become dearer to us. You think you know a character, and in Seven Mercies what we think we know, their fears and doubts, only grows. Lam and May are able to explore more of these characters in this multiple POV story while also balancing epic action. Throughout Seven Mercies we peak into glimpses of their past lives and secret memories. We see the cruelty of people. The characters who fight for agency and choices amongst change.

A theme I loved in Seven Mercies, and basically any book, is this exploration of how we can fight our 'programming'. The ways the world tries to force us to uproot our empathy. To rule with fear and never let us forget the power of punishments. All the ways they try to eliminate our compassion. Each of these characters struggle with this theme in their own ways as they search for a way to (re)assert their agency.

Seven Mercies, the incredible sequel to Seven Devils (one of my favorite reads from 2021), is a book that broke my heart in a thousand pieces and still delivered a cohesive and satisfying conclusion to this fascinating sci-fi duology.

The evolution of the story is truly brilliant and thoroughly structured, especially in how it handled the progression of the Oracle/One situation, creating a plot that is gripping and entertaining.
All the “loose ends” and secondary storylines got handled in a meaningful way, and it was so lovely to see the development of the characters and of the relationships between them- they grew profoundly thanks to each other, and their found family dynamic is definitely one of the sweetest and emotionally deeper one I’ve ever read of. Each of the Seven Devils got the end that made the more sense with their unique path and experience, and I just adore this.

Seven Mercies also draws, once again, a realistic (maybe even too much for my poor heart) and genuine portrait of a rebellion: bloody, not nice, often built upon the sacrifice of the innocent- it’s the gamble of few, in the hope that all this pain, all this atrocious guilt, will be worth it and allow a future generation to live a safe and peaceful life.

But this book is not only a space opera focused on epic battles and taking down an evil empire, but also a narration that takes the time to truly understand and portrait the inner exploration of its protagonists. And it’s amazing how, despite everything, is able to so joyfully queer, with a representation that is always carefully and respectfully executed.

Even though Seven Mercies was as traumatizing as Seven Devils, I still can’t recommend this duology enough. It has everything I love in a space opera, and it’s written so well.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for letting me read an ARC of Seven Mercies in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Seven Devils was one of my favorite sapphic books that I've read in the last year, so I was beyond excited to read the sequel and conclusion to the duology. A lovable cast of mostly queer, mostly absolutely unhinged rebels trying to right the many wrongs they accidentally did in book one? Heck yeah.

Seven Mercies, by nature of the ending of the first book, dives into even darker themes and explores the many crimes of the empire even further. We are allowed more insight into how some of the crew came to join the rebellion, and I won't lie, much of it is absolutely heartbreaking and beyond jarring.
The relationships the Devils build with each other are as complex as they are heartwarming. The way they help each other grow and work on processing the trauma they have experienced is written in a way that makes it impossible to not come to care for them.

Ariadne, specifically, steps into the spotlight in this book, and the issues and moral questions she must grapple with are intriguing, to say the least.

I really enjoyed the ending. Did it hurt me on a personal level? Potentially yes. Did it also make perfect sense and serve as a brilliant wrap-up to the story told within this duology? Absolutely.

This was a fantastic follow up to Seven Devils. I love the diversity of the protagonists and how seamlessly the authors incorporate the characters' identities into the story. The book was fast-paced and well written. I loved the resolution. I am so sad that this is the last book in the series!

I'm just gonna start this off by saying I am not at all ok! This book took me on the wildest ride of emotions and had me in a blubbering mess by the end. The Novantae resistance is in tatters, a shell of it's former self, flying from planet to planet desperately trying to hide from the Tholosians. The Devils are trying not to feel too dejected, but the more they struggle to come up with a plan to defeat Damocles, the harder being on the run gets. That is until Ariadne learns something that could tip the battle in their favour, The Oracle, in it's need to keep her safe, has gone rogue. Not only has it planned a coup against Damocles, but also one to take over the mind of every citizen, turning them into husks of their former selves. The Devils know that they have to do, but it doesn't mean they have to like it, and if they're not careful, their plan to destroy the Empire could bring it all burning down.

Man I can't tell you how much I love these characters. Lam and May give us the same POV's as in book one with the addition of Kayla, the leader of the rebellion and Cato, the ex-pilot who the Devil's managed to un-brainwash in book one. They all grow so much in this book whether from learning about their pasts, or finally accepting how they are now, and I just loved all their interactions. The subtleties in how they interact with each other and seeing how all the different relationships develop ensure that you get invested in this story whole-heartedly. They all have trauma of some kind in their past whether it be from betrayal or abuse, but that trauma is what makes them stronger, it's what ties them together, they have all been hurt in some way by the Tholosian Empire and because of that are determined to bring it to it's knees BUT they don't let that trauma overshadow the mission which is to disassemble the Empire with as little loss of life as possible (yes, even Eris gets less stabby in this one.) Lam and May really manage to show us the dark reality of war, but with plenty of levity and lighter moments so we don't get too bogged down.

I think I might have enjoyed this book a little more than book one, mainly thanks to already knowing all the players and, while while that may seem a little dull, the way they implement plot twists, as well as their overall world building, and brilliance at writing characters, make sure we are always kept on our toes. I can't tell you the amount of times I snorted with laughter, gasped out loud or held back a sob whilst reading this, just when you think you have an idea of how things are going to pan out, they manage to throw another spanner in the works, making this book almost impossible to put down.

Lam and May write some of my favourite, and the most epic space battle scenes ever. Their descriptive writing effortlessly drags you into the story ensuring you're there alongside the characters for every little skirmish or huge ass battle and one in particular had the hairs on my arms standing on end, it was just *chefs kiss* and I had to scream into the void because I had no friends who'd read it to scream at. I loved how certain characters got a little more one on one time than they did in book one, seeing all the different relationships develop be it the romantic kind between Clo and Rhea as well as another couple I wont mention for spoilers, or the friendship/familial kind because our Devil's are a family, dysfunctional as they are.

This is one hell of a chunk and it definitely reads like one in parts, only because every single one of the characters gets a fully fleshed out back story which, for those who prefer more action filled books, may get a little slow in parts. But, if like me, you're a sucker for well developed characters as well as worlds, then I can guarantee you will love this series. For me, Seven Mercies was the perfect blend of action and character development and, had we not had as much time with the characters as we did, I don't think the emotional impact of this story would have hit as hard as it did. I was desperate for out Devils to get their happy ending and Lam and May mostly managed to give us that, whilst also managing to show the realities of war. This series is perfect for fantasy lovers looking to make their first foray into Sci-Fi and I'm hoping that Lam and May collaborate again in the near future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Seven Mercies follows the same cast of characters that we followed in the first book. But in this one, we get a lot more of the present day and less of the past. There were still bits and pieces of the past, but I liked that it was more focused on the current mission. When the story starts, it feels like all is lost for the rebellion and that there is little that can be done to move forward. But the Seven Devils aren’t going to let that get them down. They’re going on supply runs and just trying to stay hidden and alive at this point. But then, there’s news and half the team is sent on a mission to discover more while the rest of the team ends up going on a mission or two of their own.
I think this was a story that was more character focused then plot focused, but I really enjoyed it. There’s action and risk, politics and secrets, high stakes and recklessness. The cast of characters was easy to root for. Eris has been through so much and still she chooses to do the right thing (which isn’t always easy). I loved Eris and loved seeing her relationships with the rest of the Devils grow and mend. Rhea and Clo end up going off on a mission of their own. I loved them in the first book, but their parts of the story were the least exciting for me. I still liked them, but not as much as I did in the first book. Nyx had an interesting storyline. She battled with thinking she was dying and trying to keep that secret from everyone else. It was so nice to see her finally open up and lean on her friends. I loved how supported she was and the way that things played out for her. Cato’s story was interesting as well. We get. A few flashback chapters for him and I was absolutely fascinated by his history and how that effected the present for him. Ariadne is still the absolute sweetest bean and I hated to see how much guilt she felt for things she’d done as a child. She had so much responsibility and seeing her overcome that really warmed my heart. Our fearless leader, Kyla, was the other character that we got some flashback chapters for. I think Kyla was one of the more interesting characters for me. Her journey from the past we see to the present was certainly not an easy one. But she holds responsibility well.
Overall, I liked this book. I honestly cannot wait to reread the first book and then reread this one. I think this story was compelling and engaging. I think the authors did a great job taking time for us to know the characters in between the action and adventure. I would love to see more books set in this universe in the future. I think there was so much potential for things that went unexplored. I loved this crew and their missions. I loved the way the story ended, but I’m absolutely still hoping for more, eventually.

Seven Mercies is the second half of a "feminist"* space opera duology by authors Laura Lam and Elizabeth May, which began last year with "Seven Devils" (reviewed by me here). I really liked Seven Devils' strong setting - crapsack space opera world largely ruled by an Empire that utilized terrifying AI and bio-engineering technology to control its citizens - and main characters, and Lam and May's prose was really easy to read, making me tear through this book quite quickly. On the other hand, I did NOT love its ending, which was incredibly dark and kind of jarring in how it came about, leaving things in a really crappy cliffhanger ending. If this wasn't a duology, I probably would've been put off enough by that not to come back, but it is, so I was willing to give this second book a try to see if it would resolve the cliffhanger in a more satisfactory way.

*I put feminist in quotation marks because, as I noted in that review, very little about this space opera's first half was feminist other than our main characters all identifying as women - which might've been enough to define something as feminist in the past, but I don't think it does nowadays. The Empire they're fighting against is dystopian and evil, but doesn't seem sexist or chauvinist, nor is that really a theme. The Empire does enforce a gender binary, but that's an issue of Queerness, not Feminism? So it's kind of an odd word to use.

To my pleasure, Seven Mercies does exactly that, with its seven main characters all now getting point of view chapters (previously, only 5 did), and them having deal with that dark crappy ending in a way that works fairly well - which is impressive given how low the authors left those characters at the end of book 1. Again, I'm not sure I'd call it feminist, but it's certainly Queer, featuring trans and non-binary characters in the main cast, and the story's themes of free will, of struggling with one's past misdeeds, and of found family and working towards a better future vs simply accepting the awful world for what it is work really really well. It's still not something I'd describe as must read, but it is very enjoyable, and I'm happy I came back for book 2.

Spoilers for Book 1 below:
---------------------------------------------------Plot Summary---------------------------------------------------
The Seven Devils are now the most wanted individuals in the galaxy, with both the Tholosian Empire and the Evoli believing they and Discordia/Eris were responsible for the terrorist attack on the peace summit - which was really masterminded by Damocles, now archon of the Empire. The Noventae resistance is in disarray, with one of their two leaders taken over by the Oracle and their bases of operation discovered and destroyed. And the reveal of Eris' identity has led to many resistance members just giving up.

And so the Seven Devils are more alone than ever, with little time to recover from the traumatic rescue mission they've just completed. And with the Empire turning more and more citizens into the mindless gerulae, mere drones under control of the oracle, it soon becomes clear that the Devils' only chance is to send Rhea to the empathic Evoli people to see if there's a way to reverse the process.

It's a mission with little hope of success. And the Devils soon realize that even that might not be enough to turn the tide, as the Oracle is out of Damocles' control, and is willing to do anything to the galaxy to get its daughter back: Ariadne......
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Seven Devils took basically the entire book to bring together its titular seven characters - former Tyrant Princess and all around badass Eris, engineer Clo, former courtesan/half-evoli-experiment Rhea, the programmer of the oracle Ariadne, ex-royal-guard Nyx, deprogrammed pilot/medic Cato, and resistance leader Kyla. Eris and Clo got the majority of the page time and point of view chapters, and since Cato and Kyla weren't really clearly part of the team till the end, they never got any. By contrast, Seven Mercies is very much split amongst its protagonists, with each one getting both point of view chapters and a character arc of their own.

And these work very well because all of these characters are so so well done and highly enjoyable. Eris is badly shaken by Damocles being able to outplot her and is desperate not to kill anymore now that her identity is known to the world, and naturally that hesitation and struggle not to kill are major impediments. Clo is struggling with her newfound love for Rhea and some questions over her own gender identity. Rhea struggles with the idea of going to the Evoli she was designed to infiltrate, whose unified empathic way of life is so so appealing, even if her existence would be considered heretical to them if discovered. Nyx struggles to stay useful despite contracting the ichor disease and Ariadne struggles with how her work on the Oracle to make it into a being that would love her has empowered it to do awful things. The expansion of each of these five's character arcs work very well, and are joined by Cato and Kyla's new arcs - Cato struggling with his programming and mysterious skills and memories, and Kyla (revealed here to be trans in spite of the ways of the Empire) feeling guilt for allowing Sher to be taken back by the Oracle.

Add in a setting where things get once again very very dark - with the Oracle turning more and more people into drones, the Evoli deciding to let it happen because they can live in peace in unity on their own world, and seemingly everyone thinking the Devils are responsible for Damocles' atrocities - well, you have a plot that will keep you turning pages quicker and quicker once again. Themes such as finding peace while others suffer, sacrifices and the costs they make, betrayals of trust, and the importance of love and found families abound, and they're done pretty well here. I still don't think the "feminist" description here works - at one point someone tells Damocles he has issues with Eris/Discordia because she's a girl and that makes no sense whatsoever in context for example - but what there is here generally is impressively done from beginning to end.

And this time, the ending is one that didn't make me angry - as it does end in a way that's fitting to the story and provides hope for a better future, even if it's not an ending that is 100% happy for all of our main characters. The story doesn't take shortcuts with that ending too, which I really appreciated - too often you see natural problems and conflicts brushed over in an ending to imagine people rightfully realized who was actually good and who wasn't, but this book doesn't do that, even as its ending is hopeful at the same time. So yeah, this book justified my decision to try Seven Devils for sure, and I'd definitely recommend the duology for those craving dark character based space opera.

I would have to say that Seven Mercies is one of the strongest conclusions to a duology that I have seen in a long time. It was well-paced for the most part and the action propels the reader forward until the epilogue sneaks up on you. The conclusion is equal parts satisfying and heartbreaking, and had me crying in my room in the middle of the night. If you’re looking for a space opera with badass women, one of the best found families with high stakes, then this one is for you.
Although I do think this book is better paced, and overall a better book than the first, I wish the first third of the book balanced the characters's perspectives a little better. This is likely something I noticed only because Eris’s perspective is my favorite, but we start the book with her perspective, and don’t hear from her again for at least 10 chapters. Moreover, Clo and Rhea’s mission felt far less compelling than the other Devils, something that I think could have been fixed if the stakes were higher for that pair.
My favorite running joke throughout the book was the Devils’s ardent hatred for Damocles, or Archon Asshole as Ariadne likes to call him. Damocles was, and still is, one of my most hated characters of all time, and to see that hatred reflected in the Devils’s banter was both gratifying and entertaining. But as much as I hate Damocles, I have to say his scenes were some of the most interesting to read.
Eris was, once again, my favorite character in the book. She has elements of Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows in her ruthlessness and in how she always has plans A through Z in her back pocket, which makes me love her even more. In the last book, my favorite dynamic was between her and Clo, and while I love the way their friendship has developed in this book, my favorite dynamic for Eris was between her and Ariadne, and I honestly wish there were more interactions between the pair. Eris wrestles a lot with who she was raised to be and who she wants to be, while also coming to terms with the trauma she experienced at the end of the last book, and the guilt that comes with that, which influences every decision she makes in this story. Her chapters are always so much fun to read because you never really know what she’s going to pull out of her sleeve, and she keeps you on your toes until the very end.
Let’s talk about Clo and Rhea. I love elements of each of their stories, especially Clo’s exploration of her gender identity, but I wish that as a couple they faced more conflict. This is something I have wrestled with in the first two times I read the first book, and maybe this is just because of how much I prefer enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn romances, but Clo and Rhea’s relationship has always felt a little too easy. This book seemed to set the stage for some real conflict for the pair in their mission with the Evoli, but didn’t follow through as much as I wish it had. It would have been compelling to see the two of them in opposition a little bit more, before finally settling their differences and coming together stronger than before. There was an interaction between them at the end of the book that I felt would have been the perfect reunification moment if Clo and Rhea had been more in opposition over something earlier in the story, and overall I think that was a missed opportunity.
This book gave us new perspectives in addition to those from the first book with Kyla, the commander of the Novantae resistance, and Cato, the stowaway pilot-turned-resistance fighter from book one. I enjoyed hearing from Kyla’s point of view but Cato absolutely stole the show for me, putting him in my top three favorite characters from this book.
First of all, Cato’s character development is something special to me. I love the way he, more than any other character, went from being a true believer in the Empire, to a resistance fighter. This book sees him dealing with the aftermath of his deprogramming, while he wrestles with his loyalties to his new friends over the deeply rooted loyalties the Oracle puts in his head. We also get to know a little more of his backstory regarding how he has such extensive medical knowledge despite only having memories of being a pilot, and let me tell you when I found out the truth I was floored. Shell-shocked. Horrified, but also fascinated. There was also some great bonding between Cato and Nyx, a relationship that I did not see coming but was definitely my favorite pairing of the whole book.
There is no shortage of good things I can talk about when it comes to this book. The Seven Devils duology is everything I look for in a space opera- high-stakes action, diverse characters, an unforgettable villain, and heartwarming relationships. TL;DR: READ. THIS. BOOK.