"Never" was one of my top reads last year, and I immediately added "Never Again" to my TBR. If I wasn't completely hooked on this series by the end of book 1, this one definitely sealed the deal. It has all the things I loved about "Never" and builds upon them in fun and delightful ways.

Right off the bat, I simply adore the author's writing style. It reminds me very much of Laurell K. Hamilton's snappy, sassy narration, with more than a few comments made directly to the reader. The book manages to take itself fully seriously while still knocking on the fourth wall every now and again, and I am HERE for it.

I also really like how this book keeps the eclectic cast of characters we met in book 1 while throwing in a few more. The story is really a continuation of the events of the first book, and while there are enough hints to get you through it if you haven't read "Never" first, you'd really be doing yourself a disservice not to start with that one. There isn't as much time spent on some of the foundational mythology of the universe and that is one of the best things about these books.

Never continues her transition from the stereotypical closed-off, stoic, tragic-backstory heroine we first met as the series kicked off. Her progression really feels natural, and I also like the way that some of that backstory is further explained in this book. It would have been easy to keep painting it with mystery and not addressing the horrors of what she went through, but the impact of her maturation means more when we're let in.

The way this story concluded was fantastic, but I can't reveal too much without giving spoilers. Suffice it to say, I really appreciate it when there are real stakes and characters don't skate through story after story completely unscathed. It grounds the books and makes the characters all the more relatable. I simply cannot wait to see how Never reacts to that last revelation!