"My dad once told me life would get complicated when I grew up. I'm guessing this isn't what he meant. My mom, on the other hand, agreed with him, and I'm guessing this kind of thing is exactly what she meant." 
 No shit, Penryn. Between the Resistanse, homicidal angels, equally homicidal and violent humans, a crazy mother and a mutilated sister, life in the World After became as complicated as it gets. Well, I guess her mother has always been that way, so at least this part isn't new. I still think the woman isn't just a nut job, but there is something about her we don't know yet. Maybe she is a seer? A psychic? Someone who can communicate with other worlds? Yes, I suspect she has some hidden powers the reader is yet to discover. 
 This book has the same quick pacing with non-stop action. There isn't a moment to sit still and catch your breath, something is always happening and Penryn is always on the move. She is as strong and determined as ever, certainly one of the better female leads I read about in YA. 
 "As far as I can tell, there's an endless supply of warriors. The outcome is obvious. It won't be long before we wear out. 
 We know it. They know it. 
 But we keep on fighting." 
 On the other hand, I really don't know that much about her either. It is like she's built a wall around her inner world, like the vault she is constantly referring to, and wants to keep it hidden, not just from the reader, but also from herself. 
 Raffe was absent for almost the whole book, and while I did miss him, like Penryn, his lack of presence didn't make the plot any less interesting for me. Penryn had her hands full without constantly obsessing about Raffe and thus debilitating herself, like so many other YA heroines do. But at the same time he was always somewhere at the back of her mind, popping up randomly in her thoughts. We also got to glimpse Raffe through his sword's memories, which was an interesting insight into his character too. 
 Speaking of which: Pooky Bear for the win! Seriously, this archangel sentient sword was a funny character in its (her?) own right, and the "Was that you, Pooky Bear?" scene at the end of the book had me laughing in earnest. 
 I felt bad for Penryn's little sister, Paige, and now I'm curious what's up with her and what route her character arc is going to take from now on. (view spoiler)[It is obvious she's got some special powers now and I really, really what to know what it is all about. I was surprised to see how she commanded the swarm of scorpion angels and how they protected her. (hide spoiler)] Also, is it ever possible for Paige to become human again? Would she want to? This is all really interesting. 
 And, much like in the first book Angelfall, I really liked how Susan Ee addressed the topic of human nature and animal rights, how we are not really all that different and what it might feel like to be on the receiving end of the very same cruelty, disregard and condescension with which humanity treats other species and forms of life on our planet, and sometimes even each other. 
 I will definitely read the next installment in the series. (view spoiler)[Will Raffe FINALLY get his wings back on??? (hide spoiler)]