A high-energy, action-filled work of speculative fiction that’s a follow up to The Marrow Thieves alternates in short chapters between the points of view of French, captured and imprisoned in one of the “residential schools”; Rose, who has gone in search of French, accompanied by Derrick; and other members of their Family. French’s brutal experience while imprisoned includes no-win choices: Does he give up hope or does he pretend to believe Canadian government propaganda and work as an agent, helping capture other Indigenous people as a potential way to escape and return to the Family? Becoming the bearer of other prisoners’ final messages adds to his pain, as does a shocking discovery. Rose and Derrick fall into the clutches of a cult-like group angling to steal their blood, but form an alliance with one of the members, non-binary Nam. The rest of the Family learn that changes in the government’s approach to stealing Indigenous people’s marrow means pregnant Wab and her future baby are at particular risk. With the guidance of a member of a resistance group of nurses from the “schools,” they leave the encampment that was starting to feel like safety to sneak over the U.S. border. As with the first book, various characters’ “Coming To” stories fill in details of their lives, the fall of society, and the importance of the bonds they’ve formed. Tense and intense, this riveting work with beautiful descriptive writing demands familiarity with the first book while setting the stage for book three. (Age 14 and older)