Much has changed since April 2015, when A Crown for Cold Silver made a 700-page dent in the SFF world. At the time, we had only theories about the identity of the pseudonymous Alex Marshall. Who was the fantasy mastermind behind the first book in the Crimson Empire trilogy? We had no idea. What we did know: if subsequent books were anything like the first, the series was going to be a rollicking, obscene, subversive, and zany epic fantasy ride.

A year later, we now know Alex Marshall is the nom de guerre of Jesse Bullington, whose previous novels have skewed toward historical fantasy but offer the same winking sense of humor. And with the release of the second book, A Blade of Black Steel, we know our premonition was right: book two doubles down on all the elements you loved in A Crown for Cold Silver—suitably diverse characters, rampant gallows humor, buckets of swears, and all—while amplifying its inherent saltiness and unconventionality and scaling down the action to create a more intimate space for its coterie of n’ere-do-wells.

This series’ greatest accomplishments rely on and cater to readers’ genre literacy. These are fantasy fans, Marshall seems to be reasoning; they know, or think they know, what’s going on here, and so the books relish subverting genre tropes with reverent irreverence, recognizable to anyone well versed in the operating standards.

In the world of the Star, middle-aged women can be warriors and protagonists, same-sex couples can rule empires, and gender fluidity is as commonplace normal as the pillaging of country villages (which, if that’s unclear, happens quite often). It’s hard to determine if the zealots in the pseudo-Satanic predominant religion are the “bad guys,” or if it’s really the band of self-proclaimed “villains.” It’s far from unprecedented to explore the idea that maybe no one is the villain. Instead, A Blade of Black Steel charts a course under the assumption, maybe everyone is. Far from making its teeming pool of unsavory souls blandly uniform, this revelation actually makes them more plausible.

In A Crown for Cold Silver, it seemed Cobalt Zosia, bisexual, aged female general, was the protagonist, her first attempt at queendom thwarted by political resistance to her social reforms. her search for vengeance for the death of her husband looked more or less righteous, and her trajectory seemed destined to chart the course of the familiar hero’s journey. Not so: instead, Zosia proved catastrophically flawed, and her story became one of many, as she attempted to herd the by turns selfish, greedy, and double-dealing Villains she once commanded.

At the end of the first book, Zosia’s quest is in disarray, as is the realm she’s presumably attempting to regain control of. And that is where the sequel picks up, with everything already fallen to pieces. As we’ve said, these books give credit readers with a certain level of savviness, so you won’t be surprised to learn the action actually picks up exactly where we last left it, slinging names and backstories like Oprah book club picks. (Pro tip: if you read A Crown for Cold Silver a year ago, a brief refresher course may be in order.)

As to who the star of this installment is, the better question is, “Who isn’t?” Having spent the bulk of 600 pages establishing a motley crew of diverse, oft-seedy characters, Marshall gives each of them their moments in the spotlight via rotating point-of-view chapters. Extreme duress has given them a chance to grow exponentially, as the conflict escalates from civil war to inhuman siege. The Sunken Kingdom has risen for the first time in 500 years, and with it have come sea monsters and nasty secrets that threaten far more than just control of the Star.

In this time of great uncertainty, Princess Ji-hyeon continues her transformation from entitled teenager to hearty military commander. Her ascendancy provides a nice contrast to Zosia’s descent into embittered resignation at the continual delays in her quest for revenge. Others, like chronically misanthropic Sullen, are prompted to do a little more than what they’re told. And, of course, the Five Villains tend to carry the day, and the plot, by dint of always having an ulterior motive (or two, or three, or four) up their sleeves.

In the environs of the Star, one can never be too prepared. In an early flashback to the childhood of Queen Indsorith, she who unseated Zosia, her battleworn mother urges the handmaidens to flee on the eve of war. “Go and pack, the lot of you, and be sure blades are brought, as well as bonnets.” Remember that, dear reader, as strap in for the fight.

A Blade of Black Steel is available now.