But Cas’s own power also has a history, one she can’t remember―or control. One that’s creeping into her mind and fracturing her sanity…just when she’s gotten herself on the hit list of every crime lord on the West Coast. And her best, only, sociopathic friend. Cas won’t be able to save the world. She might not even be able to save herself.
Alright, I’ve got things under control, I think. Absolutely making tons of progress in all the different series that I’m reading. Feeling good, you know? Not overwhelmed.
At all.
*checks notes*
Fuck.
Yeah, I’ve got way too many series I’m in the middle of reading and I don’t see it changing any time soon, so. Here we are.
At any rate, I’ve been really looking forward to carrying on with the CAS RUSSELL series, having loved the first book, ZERO SUM GAME. This was just one of those series I took an instant liking to, and while I didn’t love NULL SET quite as much as ZERO SUM GAME, this this was still a blast to read, and S. L. Huang really gives us a much deeper look at the characters in this world with this second book.
Cas is dealing with the fallout from the events of ZERO SUM GAME, and not exactly in the healthiest ways. In fact, she’s drinking more than ever, and isn’t exactly thriving. But in an attempt to level up her burgeoning crime fighting skills, Cas hits upon a potential technological solution that could lower the rising crime rates in Los Angeles. The ethics behind this idea are…somewhere in a gray area, let’s just say.
What I liked best about NULL SET was the deepening of the relationships between the characters in this semi-reluctant found family. The vibes between Cas & Checker, and also Cas & Rio are what held my interest most.
With Cas & Checker, I mean…they just bicker with one another relentlessly, almost like long-lost siblings or something. But the respect they each have for the other starts to show in some really subtle ways, and that feels super organic. I really dug that so much.
Rio continues to be one of the most enigmatic characters in any ongoing series that I’m reading, like…goddamn. The way that Huang writes Rio’s dialogue is so unusual and utterly fascinating. And this guy is just like…a complete sociopath. While also being eerily calm and measured. And with an incredibly fixed moral compass, which usually means he’s looking out for Cas, but also means he could become a very serious threat to her at any moment.
Yikes.
NULL SET goes to some dark places, with Cas grappling not just with what she’s done recently, but with much more about her past than she’d rather consider. This is an angsty, often angry book, as we watch Cas spiral into some pretty bleak ways of thinking.
This series is just so fucking cool. Cas Russell is so fucking cool. Rio & Checker, very fucking cool. Arthur is…well, I guess Arthur is the voice of reason, more often than not. So he’s cool, too.
Anyway, really looking forward to getting to CRITICAL POINT!! Hopefully soon(ish).
Grimdark Dad 