I didn't read the first book in the series, so that might explain why I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

I found the early romance between the protagonist Tea and her undead lover somewhat cringeworthy (not because of the undead thing, just the breathy internal dialog). Perhaps I'm being what @lapis@bookwyrm.social described as an "adult reader mad at kids for being kids".

The book does deal with "coming of age" issues of gender and sexual identity in a positive way.

There are a few twists that I did not see coming.

I did like the narrative structure of the two halves of the story interleaved, more or less converging (although not quite) at the end of the book.

It is definitely the middle book of a trilogy (or longer) series and some important questions are unresolved at the end.