Rating: 4.85 out of 5

I honestly did not think Caelinth could top the first book, but J-2: Angel of Slaughter just hit me right in the feels. You go into this expecting just non-stop battles because of the title, but what you actually get is Jere and Ylfa trying to be the cutest parents ever to little Eny while running for their lives. It is giving major "found family" tropes and I am obsessed.

The character development for Jere is insane. In the first book, he was just this cold weapon, but seeing him in Chapter 27 - Experience trying to understand his emotions is so precious. He is literally a weapon of mass destruction but he is worried about headpats and making sure Ylfa is okay. And Ylfa? She is such a queen. Her dealing with her hearing loss in the garden scene made me tear up. It wasn't treated as a tragedy but just a new part of her life that she adapted to with Jere's help. Their relationship is the definition of healthy communication, even if they communicate with touch half the time.

Then there is Jaka, or J-2. I was ready to hate him because he was hunting them down, but honestly, seeing his perspective in chapters like "Failure" added so much tension. He is like the dark mirror of what Jere used to be, and it makes you appreciate how far our main boy has come. The contrast between Jere's peaceful life in that hidden cabin and Jaka's chaotic mission was brilliant writing.

But we have to talk about the ending. The Epilogue?? I actually dropped my phone. When Jere realizes they are on Earth? I gasped. It is the perfect full-circle moment because Jere always felt like an outsider in the fantasy world, and now he is back but with the people he loves. It opens up so many possibilities and I need a third book immediately.

The pacing was perfect, balancing the slice-of-life moments with Eny (who is adorable, by the way) and the high-stakes military action. If you loved J-1, this sequel is everything you wanted and more. It is heartwarming, stressful, and totally epic. 4.85/5 because I need to know what happens on Earth right now!