Definitely different from the previous but still super intriguing.

Shadow man is very intense, and all over Lyla. Very obsessive over her. He always has a plan waiting and he’s 4 steps ahead, he is playing chess when everyone else is playing checkers.
Girly has been through the wringer 10 times over but is a fighter.

A kind of crappy cliff hanger and now impatiently waiting for the final book to tie off all loose ends !!!