This book expands on the paranormal world-building of the first book, including some scenes that are wonderfully eerie and atmospheric. It packs some surprises, and explains some character backstories in a satisfying way. For me, it's not as focused or as intense as the first book. That's probably in part because it follows two different main couples, which dilutes out both relationships a little.

There were things I really liked in here. Particularly that the couples and relationships didn't fit cookie-cutter M/M pairings.

Spoiler

You have one guy who is GFY and never quite as comfortable as he would be if his lover was a woman, even as he commits to a man. You have one M2F trans character. You have M/M/M/M sex, and more, that is lovely and believable and does plausible things, both positive and negative, to the couples who come together in it. It all worked for me.

The author took risks with expectations to create a unique story. But Deacon remains the most intense and vivid character in Oestend, and his relationship with Aren the most deeply felt for me, so this story was just a little less involving than the first. Still a fascinating read.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the couple - an element of settling for each other. Nevertheless it was a good follow up.

I like this one better than the first one, though I did miss Olsa.

Yes the twist is unexpected, but it's written beautifully and it works. Not my usual, and perhaps it merited a warning. But at least for me it might have made me miss a beautiful read. It's been a while since a book has truly surprised me, but I'm happier for it.

The one thing I am ambivalent about is Simon and Frances. A bit of a bitter pill that one.

Here's the thing with me and this book. I did not FEEL it. I loved the first book in this series, it was incredibly sexy and I just loved the PNRish/Horror theme it had with the wraiths and all that. Really enjoeyed it.

However, I'm not sure what this book was. The love stories, both of them felt half baked for me. For one I didn't even know who the main coupl were until about a 40% of the book. Dante who I was totally HATING in the first book and knew nothing about was SUDDENDLY a great guy just misundestood...I was told this in the book, but there was very little that actually HAPPENED that made me believe, his character felt flushed out.

Cami his love interest, could have been a great character, but in the end I also felt like the idea was a hell of a lot better than the execution. I couldn't place them together. I might be asking for too much, but I just did not feel it.

The other couple Simon and Frances...Well, that was not particularly my favorite situation. It is what it is, I just wish I was given more to actually GET them both...Frances especially I wish I could have known him better.

The sex was just alright, which was pretty disappointing since the erotica in the first book was AWESOME.

This was just OK for me.