A Traitor's War (Metaframe War #2) by Graeme Rodaughan ★★★★☆

“If you’re expecting a ‘gloat speech’ where I reveal the details of my plan to prove how superior I am... You’re talking with the wrong girl.” 

Chloe Armitage is back! Watching this master tactician play four sides against each other is bliss. 

Welcome to Metaframe Book 2: Character Building & Character Adding. We jump right into Cornelius Cranes backstory of how he came to be the King of the Vampire Dominion. The revelations about Chloe expand her potential motivations. Is she fighting for simple personal freedom, the environment, or revenge. I could get behind one or all.

Besides the vampires we see Anton and Li making themselves at home with the other young people at the Mirovar Force Cooperative. That part of the book is kind of like The Breakfast Club at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. Or in other words:

Ramin Kain, head of The Order of Thoth, has substantial POV and none of it endears.

“Kain has all the characteristics of a Bond villain and none of the charisma.” 

This is so true. He and his craven zealots leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Louise Wesson, my second favorite character, didn't have a big role and was pissed about it.

"The situation was intolerable, and she was not going to put up with it." 

Do what you have to girl!

There's also more time spent with Red Empire and the author came up with a dope selection of bad ass bad guy handles for them: Nasr al Dam/Blood Eagle, Shabbah al Ahmar/Red Ghost, and Taipan/Just Taipan.

Unlike the last book, where there were various fights, this book just had one big fight at the end.

What I didn't like about the book was that there was just one big fight at the end and no one died. Ok, so that's an exaggeration but if the good guy has a name you'll likely see them in book three. Seriously though, a team of greater number and experience, with equally vicious training, attacks and it's like if you are Good Guy:

But if you are a Bad Guy:

It was a little over the top and left me with too many characters I don't care about to remember for book three.

How about Metaframe Book 3: Red Wedding. Or at least make use of X-Ray so I can jump into book three with ease.

Solid read, four stars and looking forward to another.