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This is a System Apocalypse series that builds over time. Read in order.

It has been exactly a year since I read the previous book. And I feared I'd have a hard time getting back into it because there are so many important side characters and certain developments have been building up over time. I was surprised with how easy it was to get back into the story. There was a very helpful prologue type thing with a frame that served to keep it snappy. But also, I think Dinniman took some effort with inline context to help readers along and did so subtly enough that I only noticed because I both needed it and was watching for it.

All that to say that you know what you're getting at this point in the series. The developments were, as expected, hilarious, heartrending, and deeply touching. Carl throws his protective net wider than I think I would personally, but since he's also willing to pay the price for erring on the side of mercy I find I'm okay with that. Even when the worst case manifests.

A lot comes to a head in this book, but we knew it would. What we didn't know was just how many long-running bridges were going to burn in this one. Hidden movements surface throughout, including an early reveal of (view spoiler)[lots of former cookbook authors entering the faction wars to help Carl and his friends. They are literally putting all of their eggs in this one basket and that's both heartening and terrifying (hide spoiler)].

To avoid (more) spoilers, I'll keep this part vague. I loved some of the character developments in Carl's inner circle. And I equally loved some of those outside that circle, who have been independently pursuing their own goals so far, who merged more tightly into Carl's vision of humanity. And I even loved developments on the world building side where we start to see the movement of the wider system and how the dungeon AI is playing games with literally everybody and not just those it was meant to. But best of all is Carl making all of the death tourists who thought to play games with the lives of Earth very, very afraid. You know, until they aren't anymore because they are dead. Grim. But I can't help but be on board for it given their actions and motivations.

Anyway, this is another solid five stars and I can't wait for the next book. Dinniman is slowing down on the publishing front, but this one reassured me that even if it's a while, I'll be able to pick it up without fear of having forgotten important relationships or developments.

A note about Steamy/Chaste: There is still lots of dark humor, some of it crass. There's no steam (well, there's a volcano, but you know what I mean), but there are embodied, um, "parts" and other bits played mostly for humor/horror that this isn't chaste. So neither tag really fits and I'll leave both off.