OH MY GODDDDDDD YES. I managed to love this even MORE than the fantastically fun first book, whew what a rollercoaster of a sequel! Character arcs SERVED in this one, folks. I was flyinggg through these pages like my life depended on it, giggling and screaming and crying and just having the time of my life. This is honestly such an underrated duology, I’ll be shoving it down people’s throats from now on tho.

OK we gotta start with the MVP of this book which was *CUE SHOCK* DONOVAN???? My GOD Donovan came to PLAY; I knew I would enjoy whatever dynamic he and Bly would have in this book but it was even better than I could’ve hoped. He quickly became my favorite side character and I LOVE him. Seriously DONOVAN AND DEMELZA SPINOFF WHEN

Loved Bly and Kerrigan of course, the angst was angsting and it got a bit frustrating at times but it was worth it. I really enjoyed Bly’s arc throughout these books! It was interesting to see Bly’s new relationship with Elise evolve, too. The group dynamic in this one was really serving, guys. BENEDICT coming out here and becoming a character I really liked??? I was flabbergasted but it happened. The whole gang just had really great interactions and I love that for them and for me.

The ending was action-packed and emotional, loved where most people ended up (except one, sad face), and I like that the door was left a little open for a return to this world. Because like I said, IM GONNA NEED THAT DONOVAN DEMELZA SPINOFF ASAP IM NOT JOKING AROUND

This sequel dives deep into the complicated bond between Bly and Kerrigan, where their shared history, filled with pain and betrayal, intensifies the tension. Their raw, unresolved feelings fuel a gripping emotional journey as they fight through treacherous quests and rekindle their connection. The world-building remains stellar, with the Hallow Pool’s eerie significance adding layers to the mythology. The quest for the mystical root becomes a personal journey for Bly and Kerrigan, not just about survival, but about rediscovering who they are in the wake of everything that’s torn them apart. Plus, that ending had me gasping out loud. 10/10, I couldn’t put it down.