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** spoiler alert ** This book is even better than the first! I thoroughly enjoyed Book 2 of Sarah Newland’s series, getting to follow Natalie and her friends deep into enemy territory, learning about Nautilus in a way we’ve never been able to before. Indoctrination, power, fear–Nautilus continue to be masters of politics and up their game at every step. Newland does a remarkable job of subtly pointing out that it’s those in charge that can tend toward evil and that those in the recruitment halls, those following orders, could really, honestly be there because they think Nautilus is leading the world to peace. There was one time where I started wondering if Natalie and her crew might have got it all wrong, maybe Nautilus were good? Such is the powerful writing of Newland.

Newland also does an amazing job of hooking you in, building tension and upping the stakes. My heart is racing just writing this as I think about all the adrenaline-filled scenes where I just hope they escape/survive! And it’s worth noting that there will be tears. There are times where this book yanked at my heartstrings. But as Newland writes, “perhaps pain is the price of existence�--and falling in love with characters!

I loved the dual POV. It’s always fun as a reader when you know something the characters don’t, and following Leo separately to Natalie was super fun. I enjoyed seeing their storylines start to converge and anticipating if/how they’d meet again. And I thought Edwin was a fantastic character to add. Somehow he brilliantly added levity and seriousness to the novel, someone who knew more than our protagonists and who was more than the reader realized.

I’m hoping we find out more about Brant’s betrayal in the next book as I didn’t feel like I totally understood it. Like, I get he feels an obligation/connection to his father but he also has an incredibly strong connection to the friends he’s grown up with, they are kind of his family. So I’m interested to learn more about his motivations and decision making on this one. I must say that I loved the way Newland had us thinking Brant is trying to confess his love to Natalie when it’s actually something very different!

All the descriptions of tacking are magical, they make me smile and wish I could tack. I mean, wouldn’t that be amazing?!

I can’t wait for Book 3, to see how this all wraps up and what questions Newland leaves for us to answer ourselves. As we know by now, question everything!