I went back and forth on my rating for this one for a while.

Lovers of the first book will absolutely be just as enthralled by this sequel, which packs just as many futuristic, technological, plot-twisty punches as its predecessor. It just takes a bit more work to get there.

Although the world building is fairly well-established in the first book, newer concepts introduced in this sequel don't really get the time to sink in and earn their place among the technology that we're already accustomed to, and it almost feels like some of these plot threads should have been introduced earlier on in the series. The late additions makes it seem a little too convenient for the massive roles these new concepts play in the overall plot.

Zhade and Andra's romance had been iffy to me in Goddess, and the conflict that we left with is teased to be a major player in the events of this book and possibly make things more interesting, but I felt just as "meh" about their interactions this time around. Particularly, I felt that Zhade as a whole didn't get to shine as a character as much, which is unfortunate.

It really took until about 70% of the way into this book for the plot to really pick up and get me invested, and though the payoff and climax were quite satisfying, it's always a bit frustrating to have to wade through lukewarm waters for ages before finally catching a wave.

As with the first book, the sci-fi futurism is the standout appeal of this series. It's fun and nerdy in all the right ways and I love just how much more we get to play around with the tech this time around.

All in all, Devil In The Device was a pretty satisfactory conclusion to the duology and stands on an even playing field with the first book. This world is fascinatingly unique and Andra is one of the most interesting protagonists I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm happy to have picked up this series.

*Spoiler free*

It's no secret that I am a huge, huge fan of Goddess In The Machine. It even became one of my favorite books. So, of course I was looking forward to the sequel. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to know what new twists there would be. I wanted to know how this story was going to end. Trigger warnings: grief, alcohol

My feelings toward this one are complicated, but are overall very positive! It was different than I was expecting, and I had a few issues with it, but I can still firmly say that Goddess is one of my favorite books and this duology is a fantastic one all around.

First off, I am just in awe of Johnson's mind, because wow. The way this story is crafted, how much is packed in here, how much is needed to create this world, these characters, and to make this plot work is just awe inspiring. I am truly amazed at what she was able to accomplish. Just as complicated and twisty as the first book, it packs a bunch with twist after twist and emotional gut punch after emotional gut punch.

The characters were a serious highlight for me. I absolutely adore Andra, her drive and how she struggles with herself, who she is and what her purpose is, what she is going to make of her fate. And of course I love Zhade, he's obnoxious, but sweet, and funny, and sometimes you want to punch him, but other times you want to hug him. The side characters were AMAZING. Seriously, I cannot speak highly enough about them. My love for them grew and blossomed, and they each had their own stories and motivations. They were an integral part of the story, and I honestly think it made the whole book stronger.

Another highlight was the way technology was presented and just the way this world is crafted. The line between our world and this one is so clear, the way language has evolved, and the way that technology is viewed. I know I spoke about this in my review in the first book, but it's honestly still a highlight in this one. I think it comes down to that these reactions, and the way that this world is built, is incredibly realistic. I can see humanity evolving this way. I can see how this world could emerge from our own, and it's just, so cool.

And the twists. Johnson is just a master at plot twists, and this book is no different. There are twists just all over the place, in the middle of the book, at the end, freaking everywhere. Everything about this book is just so smart, and watching it come together is amazing. The plot, just, wow, it is so intricate, so well woven and put together, that it's just completely spectacular.

Of course I loved the fact that his book had it's own language. I also talked about this in my review of Goddess, but I need to talk about it here again because it's just so freaking awesome. Though, at the beginning, it was a bit rocky getting into it. I kind of felt like I was having a seizure when I was reading Zhade's chapters haha. This time, there is no learning curve to the language. Andra is not there to discover it with the reader, to help add an adjustment period, and I think that was why I had a bit of a hard time getting acclimated. It was new for me, but not for anybody else in the book. Nevertheless, I did get acclimated and it became one of my favorite parts of the book, because it is just so dang cool that this book has it's own language and I get to read it.

One of the things that I did not completely love were some of the emotional development pieces. It's a bit hard to describe, because they are so ingrained in the story and in the characters. But, I felt like some emotional pieces were sort of thrown out there, and they didn't completely stick. There are places where I think certain aspects could've been given more room to breathe, and they would've blossomed a lot more. It made some of them feel a bit rushed, and I didn't completely connect to them.

This ties into another thing that I didn't completely love. This is a big book. Big, as in there is a whole lot that fits into it. There is so much that needs to happen, and this plot is so intricate, and there are so many moving pieces. It's weird, because I don't think this would've worked better as a trilogy, but I also think there were a good couple things that needed room to breathe. It made some of the book feel smushed, and made me want more from certain things, plot points or characters.

Despite the things I did not love, I did end up loving this book overall. It's characters blasted their way into my heart, and I am in awe at how this book is crafted. Seriously, it's incredibly smart and there is so much about it to fall in love with. ALSO THE FREAKING EPILOUGE OH MY GOSH. It is a fantastic duology.