It was better than I expected but still not as good as I'd hoped.
I think a big problem I had was the narration.
The average book narration has the opposite problem of drifting into bland territory but there is too much of a good thing. It's over the top.
It's supposed to be humorous and it works sometimes but the entire book is narrated as if it is the punchline to a hilarious joke. It just was too much for me.

In regards to the actual book, I got whiplash from the constant back and forth of betrayal and seeming forgiveness. The most crucial thing is done right which I appreciated and that is no forgiveness at the drop of a hat. As much as the book insists that the MC didn't forgive, there isn't any kind of consequence in that vein. Everyone just acts as if she did. This happens with multiple betrayals by multiple people as there are various ugly truths revealed bit by bit over time.

The only action scene at the end is just a huge pile of conveniences chained together, none of which make any sense. It just felt like cheap melodrama and at no point had I any kind of sense of danger. Because everything was so clearly guided by the author I at no point was worried for the main cast. This lack of caring was enforced by the cheap fakeout death in the first book. The author already clearly showed her hand.

I just don't feel any kind of intentionality to the plot, it's more like all the ideas of some random brainstorming session glued together.
The author has the frustrating tendency to tell us about new world-building and rules and stuff only ever just as it is needed. The entire book could've been made up on the fly.

It wasn't bad but there just wasn't anything there that held my attention.
And I don't mean some stupid cliffhanger, I mean in general.

I won't continue with the series. ( )