I recommend Days of Blood and Starlight. 
 You dreamed a different way. Akiva, too. You, the pair of you, you had the capacity not to hate. The audacity to love. Do you know what a gift that is? So. Out of 517 pages, the only swoon I got came from pg 512... and darn it if I did not feel hopeful after that! One word. Akiva. 
 Warning: This is not a happy sequel. But if you are still inclined to read, then be prepared to be desolate. =( 
 For Akiva, Karou was dead. For Karou, Akiva needs to be killed upon eye contact. See? It was (almost) hopeless. Akiva's existence was meaningless (again) now that Karou's gone. The continuous grief of Karou for her family was unbearable (good and bad). Both are chafed with despair, but who came stronger and unyielding to pain in the end? Making him/her better and more determined? It was Akiva. 
 Akiva's path to redemption was heartachingly beautiful. Here is a man who knows his mistakes, and yet he did not deny it. Rather, he embraced the consequences, no matter how dire and sorrowful. From an angel who knew nothing but bloodshed, to a man who loved no one but Madrigal, Akiva's transition was empowering and reassuring. :) Akiva FTW! 
 Karou was hard to like in this sequel. I felt that things dawned on her too slowly. But isn't she grieving? And does that not entitle her to be blinded by anguish? Maybe. But the pain heavily questioned that one thing that made a peaceful future possible between angels and chimaera - her love for Akiva. 
 Oh, hell. Why don't you just kiss and make up already? 
 My heart broke for Hazael, because I really like that angel. and Issa, such a sweetheart. Either you love or hate Zuzana (I'm in between). And Karou's fellow Kirin? Very interesting! 
 The twists are still amazing though. and the hopeful note in the end? My goodness, it whet my appetite for the third book!!! 
 Be brave. Be very brave when you dive into Days of Blood and Starlight. This rather sorrowful fantasy is still extraordinary in its own right. 
 *emerges from state of sadness* 
 We have a war to fight, Akiva. And a girl to win, all over again. *winks*