When I picked this off a shelf, I wasn't aware it was part of a series. To Atwood's credit, however, it doesn't read like a second book. After looking over some other reviews and discussions of the series, this seems more like a parallel novel than an actual sequel. It delves into the same time period as the first book but from different perspectives. It's the type of thing some may find annoying - especially when the book is marketed as a sequel - but for me, I like that sort of thing.

I honestly quite enjoyed this book. Toby and Ren are both great character perspectives, but especially Toby. I loved her pragmatic nature brushing up against the faith of the Gardeners. I was a little disappointed that Atwood never really explored the moment that her thinking shifted from cynicism about their creeds to living them out. I assumed the transformation occurred

Spoiler

after she was holed up alone in the waterless flood

, but that's more a reader assumption than anything. I felt such a marked transition in outlook would be interesting to explore.

This book encompasses dystopia, environmental degradation, cult and spirituality, and intriguing science fiction. The elements were all engrossing and enjoyable to read. Really, this book is a 4 star rating for me, but a half star is deducted simply for an ending that I felt was rather lackluster. I will probably get around to reading the rest of the series, though, because it did check off quite a few of my personal interest buttons. 3.5 stars.