Plague Arcanist

This was a great book. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, because of where the last book leaves Volke, but i felt this book switched it up enough that it felt fresh and exciting again. I'm excited to read the next one and i feel like Shami Stovall has a good handle on where the series is going.
Wow, so much to talk about with just this one though.
Light Spoilers
Loved that we get to see more of Karna and her crew. I was really starting to miss the interactions between Volke and the rest of the Frith Guild.Karna gets a petty revenge on Theasin by cutting the bottoms of all his pockets and sanding down 1 leg of his chair. great revenge

Heavy Spoiles
So Volke is running to find Theasin, (Adelgis' Dad and still a huge dick) to hopefully find a cure. among the crew of the ship happens to be his actual father. which felt a little contrived but didn't bother me that much.going through the lightning Strait with calisto of all people and helping him kill a bunch of piratesWatching the Plague slowly start to affect Volke and his mindset was scary. Learning more about Second Acension and their goals was crazy cool and important. That Kirin Arcanists can bond 2 creatures and that the Autarch, The head of Second Acension can bond 3 creatures and Plans to bond the World Serpent and The Soulforge. Oh also excited we got a (full) list of the God Creatures.Volke's new sword. Retribution that he made with before were unknown but freaking parts of the apoch dragon, and that it cuts through MAGIC completly. a very powerful weapon to go along with his amazing shield. Learns more about Aura and practices with Fain who grows a lot. Watching Zelfree's memories through dream was an interesting choice to show how Zelfree and Calisto got where they are. i thought it was an excellent addition to the book, if not necessary.So Volke refuses 2 cures to the Plague, Killing Khepera which Theasin has been doing, or letting Theasin cure him, but not stopping 2nd Acension. so whats the only other way to cure the plague. Its TRUE FORM ARCANIST, which i calledAlso Coolest part which i Loved. "I would rather die than watch another Arcanist fall" so awe inspiring and cool. and the abilities of His True form are amazing. That his armor can shift and change, he can do aura correctly now. and hopefully his magic won't hurt anymore. 3 v 1 and True form saves the day. only thing i didn't like near the end was that Volke tells Illia he loves her and then immediatly tells addy that things are going to be different between them implying dating. which i don't want. Volke and Illia all the way