Better than the first book

This book definitely has more action, more favorable characters, and more compelling philosophical questions about mortality than the first book. Beautifully written. I spent the day browsing Tananarive Due’s website before I finished reading this book because the writing and storytelling from this woman is just...beautiful. She definitely makes it to my top list of favorite Afrofuturist writers and inspirations. The only thing is I’m still not convinced that Jessica and David need to be a couple. Lots of couplings in this book, I’ll say. Their relationship was borderline toxic in book 1 and they’re only together because...she was forcibly made immortal and has an immortal child by him so...it just makes sense?

Instead I wanted this book to explore more into Jessica’s personal self growth being an immortal being, but most of her thoughts are channeled through her motherly love and concern for Fana who is the breakout character in the novel. Jessica needs her own self-growth journey to discover her strengths too!

And the decision that they come to at the end of the novel...not totally sold on how that will actually play out in practicality but I understand the message. I guess that’s what the next book is for.
Overall, this book is definitely better (and longer) than the first.