3 1/2 stars

First off, I hope that the paper versions of this novel are better edited than the Kindle version was. The editing and the layout just got worse and worse during the course of this novel, really detracting from an enjoyable story.

This was better written than the first, though there were a few continuity issues that bothered me. It felt as though the author hadn't remembered a few essential things that happened in the first, or decided to completely ignore them because he couldn't think of a way to make them work in this one. That's a shame, because that also was something that detracted from a story that was more complex and better written than the first and rather entertaining.

There is a lot of inside genre humor, which is a very nice touch. The main character, Max Richter, can still be a bit repetitive and whiny, but he is improving. The author has a vivid imagination and does a good job letting the reader know what each creature that our characters run into look like. The action is well-paced and takes some interesting and surprising turns.

I really would like to give this 4 stars, but the poor editing and poor layout is far too distracting for me to do so.