While I didn't like this story as much as I did the first it was still very enjoyable. I love the world created here and the dark elements that make it unique. This story spins more on the relationships developing though than on the strange otherworldliness of life on these prairies. The strange events keep happening, but there less integral to what's going on between the characters.

This is really an interesting two part love story. You have Dante struggling with the pain of knowing the man he thinks he loves is in love with another and having banished himself to another ranch to try to rebuild. His pain unendurable coupled by the death of his brother at the hands of the wraiths. But with the entrance of Cami in his life all of the bitter anger and self hatred he felt begins to melt away and he becomes a redeemable character, not the man I loathed in the first book. Having, as always, generally ignored the blurb and side not genres I didn't realize where this story was headed at first. The reveal here is really well done and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I really enjoyed Cami's character in this and really felt for her and all she's gone through in her life. I liked her and Dante as a couple, together they were balanced and brought out the best in each other.

The other part of this love story is of course Francis and Simon...here I have a few more problems. While I did get that Simon does care about Francis the idea that he wasn't fully in love with him, not even really gay for you just horny is what always stood out for me. I didn't like that even in the end, as satisfied with the bounds of their relationship as both men were, I still felt like Francis was selling himself short. I feel like he's taking whatever leavings Simon's willing to give him and I didn't like it. Don't like it for Simon either as I want him to have everything he wants too even if he's baring that for himself. This felt like convenience and a friendship twisted not a true loving bond that is what I want for all the characters I really love. And don't get me wrong I loved both Simon and Francis. I just wanted a different realization for Simon than this story gives him.

The solution to the problem of the wraiths and all the craziness going on around Oestend was always where I saw things going even if it took them all a long time to figure things out. Still it was handled beautifully

Spoiler

(even if the 6 male orgy was a little much)

and I liked the way they discovered why the BarChi was exempt from the crazy. I loved Deacon's freak out. ;)

All in all this was a well told story and while some elements were not my favorite choices for the characters they still served the story. I enjoyed my reading of this and wish the series continued even as the outstanding scary has been dealt with.