*This review is for book 2 in the Archers of Saint Sebastian series and it contains spoilers for Journeys*

Being a Journey — being Tristan. Being my father at St. Sebastian’s, all over again. That’s the boy I’ve wanted to be. That’s what I’ve really wanted, all along. And it’s never going to happen.

Darker than its predecessor but equally entertaining, Squires explores a different aspect of St. Sebastian, the one of protector of plagues. This sequel features more ingenious plans, life-threatening events, and shenanigans.

The pace is slower, and much of the beginning is spent with the boys brooding over some thing or other, which becomes monotonous. A couple squires can’t stop bickering, and Marieke is more melodramatic and obtuse than ever. You’d be surprised by the mental gymnastics she does to somersault to conclusions that don’t make any sense.

Marieke spends a great part mistreating an innocent little boy (who’s gone on to become one of my favourite characters in the series) until she learns where he comes from. But mostly, I can’t get to like Marieke for her serious case of “not like other girls” that I’ll blame on her age and lack of maturity. I was intrigued by the promise of her spending more time with girls her own age but it was short-lived, and even when the girls make future appearances, they stay in the background.

There’s an overuse of not-so-subtle foreshadowing that felt read-baity when it would be explained in the next paragraph. The writing is compelling enough to not need to resort to such tactics.

The boys get dating advice from some incel rulebook, which leads to one of my favourite scenes: the Journeys trying their hand at writing love letters!

There’s more romance in this one and relationships get more complicated. I’m still hooked by the fate of the Journeys, the behind-the-scenes machinations, and the unsolved mysteries.