It's been a little while now since I read The Bone Shard Daughter , but it's a story that is well and truly ingrained in my memory – it was so good! I had no trouble at all diving into this sequel. Packed with political intrigue, high-stakes action, and events spanning an empire, this is one intense and engaging read.
 

As with the first novel, Stewart balances the narrative across her characters well, and I particularly enjoyed the growth they each undertook within this book. Their insights build the Empire and events in vivid detail without weighing down the story with long-winded explanations. The five characters form a diverse cast of individuals, all fleshed out and exquisitely flawed, and each with a clear and distinct voice. 

Having the established, loving queer couple of Phalue and Ranami featured so prominently is especially wonderful; I would love to read a story (or stories!) about them set pre-trilogy, detailing how they met, right down to the smallest moments that sparked their connection. 

This novel brings an additional romance into the mix, as Lin and Jovis navigate their growing feelings for each other whilst still process an array of challenging emotions borne of their individual circumstances. I am pleased to see that the miscommunication trope did not rear it's ugly head to to force tension or unnecessarily pad-out such a well-wrought narrative; certainly, there are misunderstandings and interruptions, but such moments and their resolutions feel natural within the tense setting of the story's events.