My take
Honestly not great. Worse than the first because I was tired of the gross monster fights that Carl always wins (obviously). Felt very random, predictable. Boring tropes like drunk mentor and feigning suicide to force the hand of the game makers. There was a teeny tiny portion of the book that began to explore the politics/intrigue of the universe. I suspect that’s where he’ll go. And the sooner the better! I’m promised by my cousins that the series will now begin to “get good”. We’ll see!