I really wanted to read more so I didn't wait long after reading the first book. It took me a while to get back into it just because it's a bit high school but the writing really really helps. I just love sassy protagonists. I loved how in the end El turns out to be a little more like her mother than she always wanted to be, seeing how great it would be if people worked together and accepted each other. I did see coming that she would want to work together but I didn't see coming that the scholomance itself would take such a big role. Quite cute. I love that Orion Lake isn't a just a love interest, but we get to see El's growing understanding of who he is and how his past shaped him. I loved how she's being more nuanced about the enclave kids and their worldview. The only thing I actively hated is how it ended. I'm absolutely enraged about it ending on a huge cliffhanger when the huge cliffhanger at the end of book 1 isn't really resolved yet! Especially since the third book doesn't actually seem to have a title or a release date yet... That shit is diabolical. Get writing, Mrs Novik!

2024 reread: I already knew the plot going into this, but I still agree with the above. I was really touched by the friendship in this book and what it means to El. Quite lovely. The ending was still baffling, but at least this time around I knew I could just immediately start reading the next book!