I listened to this on audio. At times I thought it went on a little too long, but then I realized I was quite invested in seeing how it would turn out. I enjoyed trying to figure out how the author would tie it all together. When I started, I did not realize this was a sequel. I plan to go back and read the first one. While it was a sequel, I think it definitely can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. I enjoyed it that way.