I had to sit on my feelings about this one for a little bit before deciding on the rating, because going from how much I loved the couple in the first book to the couple in this one was a WILD shift.

Thoughts all under the spoiler tag because I just started blurting out random thoughts with no real structure lmao

Most of these books deal with instalove, I've come to peace with that. But this one was ridiculous in HOW quickly Bo and Kaia fell in love, and especially with how much Kaia hates Bo when we first meet her. Literally, she HAAAATES him and everything he stands for - and she thinks he's responsible for KIDNAPPING AND BRUTALLY MURDERING HER PACK MATES. And yet it only takes one simple conversation for Kaia to change her mind and then they're basically horny for each other in 24 hours, and in love in 48 hours. This entire book takes place in like 2 weeks and they create the mating bond in that time frame. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!

The countdown to Bo's brain going to mush was a let down here, and it felt repetitive after Mercant's deal in the last book. Plus, we all know Bo is going to make it - and the story didn't seem to care about the fact that he does make it even though we spend way too much time with them literally counting down in the narrative. Bo survived! Woo! Let's keep the plot moving because now we have to reveal Kaia's big deal and have her get over it with the power of love too!

And y'aaalllll lmaaaooo KAIA HATES BEING ON LAND? Because her parents died on land and nobody helped them?? Like okay yeah, I get it, she was a child and she has a ton of trauma from her childhood - but after the major life or death scenario we got with Bo, having the last chunk of the book deal with her trauma and triggers when we had NOTHING of it until then just feel so weird and jarring.

The best part about this book was learning more about Black Sea, but I still came away from this feeling like we didn't really learn anything of value. Yeah, we got to experience the shifter clan, but they didn't feel any damn different from the wolves or the cats or the bears at all.

Speaking of feeling similar - LMAO @ Bo being named a human alpha and being labeled as a dominant, etc etc. Forcing a human man into the dominant alpha male routine is boring, and they have historically been my least favorite version of the romantic heroes. (Yes, I still fucking hate you, Dev.)

The plot was fine, at least we got a lot more insight into the Black Sea disappearances. 

Wait lmao lmao I forgot Kaia is a DOLPHIN!!! There's a whole scene where Bo watches her shift into a dolphin and she prances in the waves and he's so happy and she jumps into his arms and he thinks she has beautiful dolphin eyes lmaooo I CAN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLYYYYYY

I need Malachi's book ASAP if only so I stop being blue balled about what his sea creature form is goddamn.

Kaleb and Bo becoming reluctant friends is objectively hilarious.

Anyway, on to book 3 because I forgot what it's like to be addicted to reading these.