Trespassers

It is rare that a sequel is better than the first book, but I do like Trespassers better than Ferryman. Ferryman felt like there were many inconsistencies in what affected the spirits and Dylan’s reactions felt off for the situation. In Trespassers, Tristan has followed Dylan back into her body and they are in the living world. This setting allows for many more interactions and an evolution in their relationship that feels genuine. Tristan is learning about the real world and his personal development is interesting.
The introduction of Susanna and Jack’s characters provided a stark contrast of what happens if you do not have the bond that Dylan and Tristan have. Jack has a tragic background but that does not redeem him as a character. He is unlikable and I do wonder why the author linked Susanna with him. Susanna’s motivations for going to the real world felt flat. She has never actually talked to Tristan in the entirety of their immortal existence but imagines a relationship together in the real world once they follow any soul back. Her character’s punishment from the Inquisitor is harsh and now I am more interested in her character to find out what happens to her and Jack in the third book.
I can see why Dylan has a rocky relationship with her mother. She is abrasive and loathes Tristan. With so much distrust it is a bit out of character for her to go ahead and allow him to live with them considering Dylan is 15 years old. She also watches them for impropriety yet never catches them spending the night in the same bed.
I am glad that Dylan meets her father and he seems like a good guy. I was surprised in the first book that she dies on her way to meet him because I would have expected her not to have that unfulfilled action. So, her meeting him and developing a relationship in this second book makes sense.
There are consequences to their return and it kept my attention throughout wanting to find out how it would be resolved. Overall, this book had more internal logical actions and consequences. The characters and their situation evolved and were interesting. This was a quick read and I am looking forward to the third in the trilogy.

TRESPASSERS by Claire McFall is a YA Sci-Fi Fantasy novel and sequel to FERRYMAN. At this point, Dylan and Tristan have successfully crossed into the land of the living, having escaped terrifying creatures and death itself, but those obstacles pale in comparison to Dylan’s mom, Joan. She is more than happy to keep Dylan and Tristan apart, unknowing that if they don’t stay within close proximity to one another, they’ll both die. It’s not the most ideal circumstance, but Dylan and Tristan are happy to put up with it as long as they can live normal lives together. Unfortunately, when more beings start crossing from the wasteland, killing innocent humans before their time, Dylan and Tristan must remedy the situation or they may end up back in the wasteland themselves.

Overall, this story is very unique and imaginative. I like how the author sets up what happens post-mortem, and because of this, I enjoy Susanna’s chapters quite a bit, particularly when she guides the older woman to be rejoined with her husband. Also, more than anything else, in the third book, I want to see how Susanna and Jack will navigate their situation and if they’ll finally learn to work together.

It's clear the author is a trained writer, as well as a former English teacher, as the writing style is refined and pleasant. That being said, while I found the setting and circumstances interesting, I didn’t care what would come next until the last seventy pages or so. Because of that, it is a slower read. However, considering this is the second book in a trilogy, I would imagine this installment is the setup for an exciting third book.

TRESPASSERS is the kind of story that reinforces the old adage: Be careful what you wish for. Tristan and Dylan could’ve never predicted the consequences of their actions, and neither could Susanna. I’m curious to see where it goes, and even more curious for the film which will star Louis Partridge from ENOLA HOLMES and be directed by Kelly Marcel.