A beautiful mess…
There is so much I like about this series. It’s beautifully drawn and filled with rich world building. There are some elements of this volume that worked for me, primarily the ending with Sunny and Ezra.
Unfortunately, there was a lot that don’t work for me with this volume, as it felt really disjointed. I get that in the middle act of a series there is a lot to accomplish. Characters are often separated, multiple plot lines are explored, changes happen that the characters don’t understand, there is often a deep sense of hopelessness, friends find themselves at odds with each other, etc… All of this felt like a meandering mess, however, instead of new pieces being added to make for a more complex picture.
I’m hoping that when I read the next volume I will have a new appreciation for all the ground that was covered in this volume. However, reading this entry into the series I found myself disinterested in half of the plot lines and questioning where the author is going (not in a good way, though).
While I still highly recommend this series, and look forward to reading the next part of this arc, I find myself disappointed with this particular volume.
All of that being said, I reserve the right to amend this rating after reading future volumes.