This book didn't grip me quite as strongly as the first one did. I remember feeling this way the first time I read it as well. I certainly wouldn't say that this book suffers from second book syndrome because nothing about the story felt like unnecessary moving of chess pieces or characters expounding to each other about the way the world works, but at the same time, it had a different sort of pacing and urgency. I really enjoyed the chapters with Nassun and getting to learn more about her life and also her experience of being Essun's child. Very poignant and heartbreaking to hear both sides of their relationship. I also liked learning more about the lore and the worldbuilding, but I will admit that I don't entirely understand the motivations behind all of the factions at play here. This is another thing I remember from my first read-through, a sensation of "I love this but I also don't quite get it???" and I had hoped that a re-read might clear things up. Not quite, but, I do still love it quite a lot.