I like big books, and I cannot lie. But what I like even more than just big books are big books that have...
*Action
*Character and relationship development
*Plot progression to keep the story freshly moving along
Hickory Mack has done all of the above in Witchling.
The second installment in this series had me just as spellbound as the first. We're starting off immediately with some fun teasing because Chiori is finally 18, so we're getting a bit more adult flavor to her voice, feelings, and thoughts, while she's still got that core of curiosity, confidence (maybe sometimes overly so), impulsiveness, and oh, definitely, power, that we started to see in the younger version of our FMC in book 1.
I like older Chiori just as much as her younger self. Both versions of her have a great chemistry with the rest of our cast of characters, but Witchling gives us the chance to see how Chiori has grown into herself (her power and relationships) as well as her title as Lady of the household. The connection between Chiori and her ladies is still ever so much fun, and they really have this family vibe that's done so well, and it's just really awesome to see an FMC with a supportive and powerful collective of women behind her. So many of the RH books out there put the FMC in a position where the women are her are backstabbing, bloodthirsty, and ready to steal away her men and whatever else their greedy eyes catch on, but Chiori's ladies are such a great ensemble because they just want to lift her up, keep her safe, and help her become the leader she's capable of becoming.
Aside from her ladies, there are also some really fun moments between Ichio and Chiori, and I love how Mack has brought out his personality and power because we're not reading a series where the FMC HAS TO BE the most dangerous threat out there. She's surrounded by powerful beings, which is fun to explore because she gets to learn from them, but it's also a nice balance where she can lean on them and have real connections where people don't just blindly follow or fear her. Another person who's really been drawing my eye in book two is Moscow. Along with Ichio, we get to see more of Moscow's personality break out, and he's got his own snarky, loyal, and bad*ss side that definitely gets represented in book two, and I've harped on and on about how I want to know what's happening next with him, but Mack isn't giving away any secrets. insert glare here
Last but not least, as we're thinking of characters, Chiori's men. Now, they're all developed and powerful and scene-stealing enough that they stand firmly on their own merits, but they're also so devoted to her that you can't really refer to them in any other way.
Gideon/Gid has grown into what you'd expect from the seeds that are planted in book 1. He's Chiori's closest companion and confidante (outside of her ladies). The two of them are physically and emotionally close, and I actually really like that there's a different between her chemistry with him and her chemistry with Makkai. One thing that Mack isn't afraid of is to let Chiori's relationships move at the pace they need to for her characters. She's not forcing each relationship to be even, which I like because it feels more organic, and it allows each of the men to bring out different sides of Chiori. Gid is the lover of the group, the one with the softest heart, but he definitely stands strong beside his family, and there's this nice element where he, more so than the others, helps Chiori see the person that she wants to be because he holds a different moral standard for her and the kind of person that he knows she could and should be.
Makkai is still in alpha mode, but there's some nice progress where he's kind of forced to not just see that Chiori is a woman (he's already kind of tortured about that), but he has to treat her as one, and there's a nice moment where he gives her some autonomy and control that gives us the chance to see their relationship move forward. There are a lot of elements within Makkai that we saw in book 1, but one of the aspects that really shines for me in book 2 is the relationship that he's been cultivating with Gideon. I've read RH books where the men get along, love each other, hate each other, compete with each other- the whole gamut of dynamics. The kind that Makkai and Gid have grown is one of my favorites- it's a comfortable closeness and this equal acknowledgment of what each of them provide for their lady. So, that's something new we get from Witchling and definitely something I like.
Meanwhile, as we all swoon over the two originals, there are also some newcomers to the party. We see two more of Chiori's mates in this book, though the time we spend with them isn't exactly equal. Prepare to get some power, definitely some alpha-ness, protectiveness, and an overly healthy amount of snark, but I think that readers are going to be just drawn to the two newbies as they are to Makkai and Gid. I don't want to spoil anything since getting to know the two new men is definitely one of the fun aspects of book two, so you'll have to see for yourselves!
Since I've already talked too much, let me just say that the plot, albeit long, is easy to follow, and Mack does a good job with her pacing and balance, We DO get steam, though I'm a little grumpy about the ending (you'll see what I mean, thirsty readers lol), and we're not left hanging with a fade to black. There is a lot of information being shared in Witchling about Chiori's powers, her role/progress in fulfilling Gabija's prophecy, her magical balance with her mates, so take your time. If you're a re-reader like me, there are plenty of little hotspots of info for you to scrutinize later after you get the binge out of your system and appease the heathen who says DON'T STOP NOOOOOOOOOOOOOW on your first read-through.
Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this series. It's some of the best kind of escapism to me because it's giving me everything I need: fantasy, magic, swoonable moments, steamy moments, rich world-building, and enough mystery to make me think. Nicely done, Ms. Mack!