First half of the book was meh and I only continued because the first book had been so good. Second half of the book was better but still overall disappointing. ( )

I read the first book [b:The Outside|40947778|The Outside (The Outside, #1)|Ada Hoffmann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544647268l/40947778._SY75_.jpg|63855987] as part of the Goodreads Sci/Fi group selection for Oct 2019 and a general Lovecraftian horror connection. Fallen is the second of the series and picks up right where the first book ends with the same cast of characters ... and is really just a continuation of the original story. As much as I was completely fascinated by the world building in the first book, this book doesn't add anything new ... You have AI Gods that pretty much usurp the roles of traditional deities (complete with a brutal machiavellian oversight of humanity through cruel cyborg "Angels") that highlights standard tropes and criticisms of religion in general. Then you have the reluctant rebels just trying to survive after the chaos of the "Outside" collides with the planet on which they reside. I found all of this pretty interesting ... in the first book ... and we do get a little more information on some of this, but not much. The first half of this book doesn't appear to go anywhere and it took me several weeks to push through it ... it picks up for the second half though and I cranked through that in just a few days. Still ... I am not exactly sure what if anything was actually resolved plot wise and that is a serious shortcoming for this sequel (so it loses a star).

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheFallen #NetGalley ( )

Continuing with the exercise in "Lovecraft subversions" Hoffmann started in "The Outside," this is a very middle novel. An uneasy status quo holds forth on the world where extra-dimensional forces were inflicted on the human population's AI overlords, with the cost to our heroine Yasira Shien being a shattered personality, while her companion Tiv Hunt (and their associates) try to craft at least day-to-day solutions to the problems they confront. This is a very bland description of what the various characters are trying to make of their situation; at least until things blow up real good in the end. As to whether you want to read this check out "The Outside" first. I liked the first book in this setting a great deal, and I like this one too. ( )

Not bad, but I liked the first book more, I think. Still interested to find out what happens in book 3. ( )