I've been sitting on this beauty since early January thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company. Of course, it being the second in a series, first I had to read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (which you should, as well. The background information there really is important here even though it could be read on its own).
Then I had to recover.
Then life happened repeatedly and other books got added to the pile and I kept thinking "well, it's not set to be released until late June so there's plenty of time." All of a sudden the release date was rapidly approaching and I still hadn't cracked the digital spine. Based on my experience with the first book, I should have known that this wouldn't be an issue.
I started reading late on June 23rd. I read it while walking to and from work. I read it at work. I read it in bed. I read it when I was waiting for the coffee to brew and the food to cook.
I couldn't put it down.
Today is the release date and, quite sadly, I finished the book early this morning.
"Sadly" because I've grown so attached to the women in these books and I'm going to miss them. Sam and Arlo, too, but most definitely the women. Howe has a real talent of making her characters so very real and relatable -- whether she's writing about ten years ago or two hundred and ten years ago. I'm hoping that it doesn't take another ten years for a third book to appear. There's still so much story that could be told!
